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CABIN   IN   AVHICH  THE  FIRST  CHURCH   ORGANIZED. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


OF  — 


IOWA  BAPTISTS 


COMPILED   AND    EDITED    UNDER    THE   AUTHOKITY   OF   THE    IOWA 

HAPTIST   STATE  CONVENTION   BY   REV.    S.    H.   MITCHELL, 

HISTORIAN  OF  THE   CONVENTION,   WITH   AN 

INTRODUCTION  T5Y    D.    P.    SMITH.  D.   D. 


---^^#^ 


BURLINGTON,   IOWA: 
BURDETTE  COMPANY. 


V 


C\/ 


•^-^-^^c^ 


COPYRIGHT  1886. 

BURDETTE  COMPANV, 

ISI^RT-INCTON,    IOWA. 


COKTEMTS. 


I»AGE. 

Prel'acu 5-7 

Introduction i)-17 

First  Church 19-22 

First  Association 23-28 

Early  Worli 29-34 

Pioneers— Educational  Plans 35-40 

Rapid  Growth  Home  Miss.  Soc.\  . .      41-46 

Am.  S.  S.  Union 47-52 

Missionary  Work— State  Convn. . .      5'5-fiO 

Progress  tjl-6ti 

Educational  Society,  etc 67-72 

Western  and  North-Eastern  la 73-80 

Reminiscence 81-100 

Associations: 

Des  Moines 101-114 

Davenport 115-132 

Oskaloosa 133-144 

Fox  River 145-1.54 

Centerville 155-164 

Central , 16.5-17S 

Eden 187-196 

Dubuque 197-218 

Cedar  Valley 219-236 

Bedford 237-242 

Southwestern , 243-251 

Linn 2.55-26:i 

Iowa  ^"alley 267-276 


PAGE. 

Western 277-284 

Keokuk 28.5-294 

Burlington 29.5-310 

Washington 311-324 

English  River 32,5-3:^2 

Turkey  River 33;i-344 

Upper  Des  Moines 345-368 

East  Grand  River  /  •J68-"8'> 

Murray  * ' 

East  Nodaway , 383-386 

Sioux  Valley 387-392 

Atlantic , 393-400 

Colored 401-406 

German 406-407 

Scandinavian 407-408 

Swedish 408 

Danish  and  Norwegian 408 

Early  Mlss'y  Work  in  Central  la..  179-186 

Reminiscence 4D9-416 

State  Convention 417-424 

Educational  Work ^ 42.5-434 

Home  Mission  Society 4.3.5-440 

Foreign  Missions 441-446 

Sunday  School  Work 447-4.54 

Institutions  of  Learning 455-463 

Biographical 464-470 

( )bituary  Notes 471-504 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTR/ITIOKS. 


PAGK. 

Cabin  in  which  Danville  Church  Organized Frontispiece 

Organization  of  First  Association 24 

Portraits:  page. 

Rev.  Charles  E.  Brown 40 

Rev.  J.  F.  Childs .56 

Rev.  John  E.  Clough 72 

Dexter  P.  Smith,  D.  D 104 

E.  E.  Lewis,  Esq 136 

J.  A.  Nash,  D.  D 168 

Rev.  James  Sunderland 300 


R.  Garton,,  D.  D 232 


Hon.  M.  T.  V.  Bowman 264 

John  W.  Burdette '. 296 

Rev.  Morgan  Edwards 328 

Rev.  S.  H.  Mitchell 360 

Rev.  T.  S.  Griffith 392 

Rev.  C.  E.  Hlggins 434 

E.G.  Spinney,  D.  D 456 

Rev.  A.  G.  Eberhart 488 


ERRATA. 

Page  106,  line  20,  for  1848,  read  1845. 

Page  115,  line  2,  for  Dubuque,  read  Davenport. 

Page  215,  line  31,  for  Winterset,  read  Winthrop. 


PREFACE. 


The  writer  of  the  following  Sketches  would  fain  preoccupy  the  mind 
of  the  reader  with  a  few  preliminary  observations,  the  better  to  prepare 
the  said  reader  to  take  the  succeeding  pages  at  their  true  value  and  to 
get  the  most  out  of  them. 

First:  If  he  is  examined  as  to  how  he  came  to  undertake  the  work, 
such  as  it  is;  ask  the  bud  just  ready  to  change  into  the  most  common  of 
flowers,  how  it  came  to  be  the  bud  that  it  is.  It  cannot  tell.  You  can 
not  tell.  There  has  been  a  beginning— back  where?  A  process  of  growth 
—how?  perhaps  long  before  it  developed  into  conscious  bud  (ism).  So  the 
present  work  has  been  a  growth;  long  a  hidden  growth,  so  to  speak,  be- 
fore there  was  any  conscious  purpose  in  the  mind  of  the  writer.  He  will 
try  to  explain.  When,  twenty-four  years  ago  this  past  January,  the 
present  writer  was  appointed  General  Missionary  and  Financial  Agent 
of  the  Iowa  Baptist  State  Convention,  Baptist  work  in  the  largest  part 
of  the  State  was  in  its  infancy.  Newer  than  we  then  realized.  Only 
three  Associations  in  the  State  were  more  than  ten  years  old,  and  one  of 
them  had  already  passed  away,  giving  place,  however,  to  two  others. 
Entering  into  the  State  work  under  these  conditions  with  everything  abcut 
it  to  learn;  entering  into  it  with  all  the  energy  of  our  being,  and  making 
it  a  part  of  our  life,  and  our  life  a  part  of  its  life,  we  were  compelled  to 
study  the  situation  in  all  its  phases.  Nothing  in  its  past  history  escaped 
our  attention.  Nothing  that  came  into  notice  at  all.  Seven  years  were 
thus  spent  in  continuous  annual  contact  with  the  work  and  workers. 
Now  in  the  centers,  now  off  on  the  borders.  Most  of  those  who  had  made 
beginnings  were  still  at  their  posts  and  we  learned  to  know  them  and  to 
love  them.  During  the  whole  quarter  of  a  century  our  relation  to  State 
work  has  been  almost  continuous,either  as  a  member  of  the  Board  or  as  a 
Missionary  pastor.  For  twenty-tive  years  we  have  attended  every  annual 
meeting  of  the  Convention  but  one.  Incidents,  names,  ;ind  associations 
were  all  this  time  being  cherished  in  the  memory,  and  others  laid  by  in 
the  library,  most  of  the  time  without  any  conscious  purpose  as  to  their 
future  use.  So  much  for  predisponent  growth.  Again  in  1884,  the  fifti- 
eth year  of  Baptist  life  in  Iowa,  in  the  ordering  of  Providence  the  writer 
was  pastor  of  the  Danville  Church  which  should  have  celebrated  its  fifti- 
eth anniversary  at  the  close  of  that  year.  This  Drought  the  matter  up 
afresh,  and  with  the  advice  of  friends  the  Historical  Sketches  of  Iowa 
Baptists  began,  in  a  series  of  numbers  in  the  Standard.  The  rest  the 
reader  knows. 


6  pk?:face. 

Secoxd.  The  reader  must  be  reminded  how  ruefully  condensed, 
much  of  such  a  history  must  be  in  order  to  at  all  touch  points  in  them- 
selves all  worthy  of  a  larger  place.  In  1876,  in  one  of  the  oldest  Associ- 
ations a  committee  was  appointed  to  prepare  "a  Centennial  History''  of 
the  Association.  The  chairman  of  that  committee  was  a  very  intelligent 
minister  and  a  scholar,  not  now  in  the  flesh.  After  carefully  looking 
over  the  ground  for  a  year,  and  taking  in  something  of  its  dimensions 
he  did  not  attempt  to  write  a  history  but  made  a  report  in  which  he  said: 
"A  history  of  the  Association  that  would  be  at  all  satisfactory,  must 
necessarily  embrace  an  extent  of  matter  which  would  make  a  volume. 
For  example.  The  Association,  organized  in  1839,  has  been  perpetuated, 
through  a  series  of  changes,  to  the  year  1877  (the  date  of  the  report). 
The  law  of  its  preservation  is  deserving  of  attention  as  well  as  the  body 
of  the  principles  involved  in  its  organization.  The  names  of  seventy- 
flve  churches  appear  on  the  record,  having  been  in  existence  for  longer 
or  shorter  periods.  Their  localities  and  the  causes  which  effected  their 
extinction,  and  other  matter  connected  with  their  existence  ought  to  be 
noticed.  On  these  same  records  we  find  the  names  of  153  ministers  of 
the  gospel.  Historical  sketches  of  many  of  these  men  would  be  essential 
to  the  history  of  the  Association.  Other  faithful  laborers  in  the  vine- 
yard, both  brothers  and  sisters,  would  need  mention.  The  labors  of  these 
ministers  and  others  furnish  an  exhibition  of  zeal,  self-denial,  and  devo- 
tedness,  and  a  constancy  of  faith  and  noble  endurance  for  Christ's  sake, 
which  ought  to  have  special  mention  in  detail.  '1  he  territory  at  the 
time  these  elder  brethren  begun  their  work  was  largely  in  possession  of 
various  Indian  tribes,  and  consequently  uncultivated,  and,  though  a 
beautiful  country,  was, still  a  wilderness.  Then  it  ought  to  be  shown  in 
the  history  that  the  distinguishing  characteristic  of  the  Association  in 
point  of  doctrine  is,  as  Dr.  Mosheim  defines  it  with  regard  to  that  long 
succession  of  ancient  Baptists,  who  lay  concealed  in  almost  all  the  coun- 
tries of  Europe,  before  the  rise  of  Calvin  and  Liuther  and  who  held  'that 
the  invisible  church  is  inaccessible  to  the  wicked  and  unrighteous,  and 
is  exempt  from  all  those  institutions  which  human  prudence  suggests  to 
oppose  the  progress  of  iniquity,  or  to  correct  and  to  reform  transgres- 
sors." It  will  be  seen  by  the  above  that  an  adequate  history  of  a  single 
association  would  require  a  vobme  of  little  less  dimensions  than  that 
which  has  been  practicable  to  us  in  sketching  the  whole  state.  After 
the  printing  of  the  first  few  forms  the  assiduous  application  of  the  con- 
densing process  was  ever  present  as  an  imperative  necessity. 

Third.  The  friendly  reader  will  bear  in  mind  that,  whatever  may 
have  been  our  means  of  knowing  of  the  things  whereof  we  have  written, 
many  things  have  transpired  in  the  history  of  Iowa  Baptists,  known  and 


PREFACE.  7 

remembered  by  ditt'ere  lit  brethren,  that  it  has  been  impossible  for  the 
writer,  or  any  other  one  person  to  know,  and  that  there  has  been  no  ap- 
propriation of  money  nor  other  means  provided  to  enable  the  historical 
committee  to  go  about  the  state  and  hunt  up  all  the  pioneers  and  find 
out  all  they  know.  Furthermore,  it  was  said  some  years  ago  by  a  once 
distingu'shed  divine,  that  it  was  quite  possible  for  people  to  remember 
very  distinctly  events  that  had  never  taken  place.  It  will  not  be  sur- 
prising if  some  who  were  active  in  the  earlier  years,  may,  in  the  infirm- 
ity of  years,  remember  things  differently  than  they  appear  on  such  rec- 
ords as  have  been  accessible.  That  errors  will  have  crept  into  the  book, 
is  doubtless  inevitable,  but  great  pains  have  been  taken  to  make  it  as  ac- 
curate as  possible,  depending  upon,  and  carefully  consulting  the  records 
wherever  personal  knowledge,  or  the  Knowledge  of  some  well-known 
brother  has  not  been  available,  and  imparting  only  such  facts  as  are 
borne  out  by  these  sources. 

Fourth.  Our  venture  is  sent  forth  with  no  claims  for  literary  ex- 
cellence. We  have  not  attempted  to  write  essays  on  the  matters  intro- 
duced, nor  to  exhibit  rhetorical  skill,  nor  to  deal  in  figures  of  speech. 
The  one  paramount  desire  that  has  dictated  these  sketches  has  been  to 
honor  God  by  presenting  and  preserving  a  record  that  would  justify  the 
now  historic  exclamation,  "What  hath  God  wrought!"  in  looking  over 
our  past  history;  to  awaken  pious  recollections,  to  sanctify  personal 
and  religious  associations  as  God  does  in  His  providence,  turning  the 
hearts  of  the  pious  to  holy  remembrances  of  the  past,  and  to  afford 
pleasure  to  the  toilers  in  life's  vineyard,  and  especially  to  the  fathers  and 
mothers  in  Israel  yet  among  us,  by  turning  their  thoughts  to  their  co- 
laborers  who  have  gone  before,  and  to  the  displays  of  divine  grace  with 
which  our  past  history  abounds,  and  finally  to  preserve  for  the  future 
historian  a  mass  of  material  which,  else,  must  in  a  few  years  have  been 
lost.  We  are  persuaded  that  whatever  the  merit  of  the  book,  the  time  is 
fast  passing  when  its  preparation  on  its  present  plan  would  have  been 
possible.  S.  II.  M. 


IKTRODUCTIOK. 


0  FAITHFUL  transmission  of  the  recoi'ds  of 
each  generation,  involves  a  legitimate  re- 
sponsibility. "One  generation  shall  praise 
thy  works  to  another."    Psalms  145:4. 

From  the  earliest  ages,  stones  have  been 
set  up,  monuments  builded,  histories,  more  or  less  in  detail 
written  and  repeated  to  children  and  children's  children ; 
enabling  them  intelligently,  and  as  enjoined,  "abundantly, 
to  utter  the  memory  of  God's  great  goodness."  Psalms 
145:7.  "Thou  shalt  remember  all  the  way  which  the  Lord 
thy  God  led  thee  these  forty  j^ears."     Deut.  8:2. 

Iowa  Baptists,  acknowledging  the  validity  of  the  obli- 
gation, requested  Rev.  S.  H.  Mitchell  to  write  their  history 
and  cancel  the  claim.  Mr.  Mitchell  has  not  betrayed  the 
trust  committed.  Pledges  of  fidelity  to  persons,  organiza- 
tions, and  the  denomination,  have  been  scrupulously  kept, 
and  the  sanguine  expectations  of  his  many  friends  more 
than  realized.  For  his  exhaustive,  painstaking  labor,  in 
gathering  material,  and  pushing  the  work  to  an  early  com- 
pletion, he  is  worthy  of  all  praise. 

The  history  of  Iowa  Baptists  is  nearly  or  c|uite  co-ex- 
tensive with  the  history  of  the  State.  The  exhaustive  his- 
tory of  the  one  involves  frequent   allusions  to  the  other. 


10  INTRODUCTION. 

Baptist  churches,  with  other  Christian  organizations,  liave 
exerted  a  silent,  nndictatorial,  but  felt,  modifying  influence, 
in  the  enactment  and  execution  of  laws,  and  the  founding 
of  humane  institutions.  There  has  always  been  a  vital, 
though  not  organic  union  of  this  Commonwealth  with 
Christianity.  True,  the  Puritanical  "Blue  Laws"  have 
been  indignantly  repudiated  ;  nevertheless,  in  the  language 
of  E.  G.  Robison,  LL.  D.,  president  of  Brown  University, 
"  the  religious  wave  of  the  Puritan  and  Colonial  periods, 
has  not  become  a  spent  force  "  in  Iowa,  The  trend  of  the 
church  has  been  to  unify  the  people  in  planning  and  exe- 
cutin^for  the  public  weal.  It  Avas  wisely  and  truthfully 
said  by  Carlisle,  "there  never  has  been  a  nation  yet,  that 
did  anything  great,  that  Avas  not  deeply  religious." 

The  church  and  the  school  house  (which  Baptists  have 
always  fostered)  have  been  important  factors  in  the  devel- 
opment of  Iowa.  By  unanimous  consent  they  have  been 
pushed  to  the  front  in  the  progressive  line  of  march. 

On  a  time,  three  Baptist  ministers,  including  the  Corre- 
sponding Secretary  and  Financial  Agent  of  the  Iowa 
Baptist  State  Convention,  and  a  distitiguished  pastor, 
while  exploring  in  a  destitute  part  of  the  State,  approached 
a  beautiful  lake.  The  first  indication  of  civilization  which 
attracted  their  attention  was  a  very  beautiful  and  sub- 
stantially constructed  school  house,  painted  and  furnished 
in  a  style  that  would  have  honored  Massachusetts,  or  any 
State  in  the  Union.  Upon  meeting  a  boy,  they  asked, 
"have  you  a  school  here?"  "Yes,"  was  his  reply.  "How 
many  scholars  attend?"  "Three,"  was  the  prompt  re- 
sponse. Judge  of  the  surprise  of  those  gentlemen  to  learn 
that  there  was  only  one  family  within  twelve  miles  of  that 
lake.  But  a  school  house  was  there,  and  a  trio  of  Baptist 
ministers  looking  for  an  opening  for  a  mission  outpost,  and 
an  eligible  site  for  a  meeting:  house. 


INTRODUCTION.  11 

In  another  locality,  business  men  of  enterprise  and 
push,  compreliending  the  exceptionally  rare  advantages  of 
the  place,  liad  built  a  school-house  and  laid  out  a  town. 
These  gentlemen,  making  no  pretentions  to  personal 
piety,  but,  appreciating  the  absolute  necessity  of  some 
religious  organization  to  facilitate  the  speedy  development 
and  highest  prosperit}^  of  their  embryo  town,  said  to  one 
of  the  Baptist  trio  of  explorers,  "send  us  a  preacher  and 
we  will  build  a  church  at  once." 

The  author  of  these  well  delineated  sketches,  causes  to 
pass  before  the  reader  a  life-like  panorama,  a  pen-picture, 
illustrating  the  various  stages  of  development.  In  this 
panoramic  view,  we  are  first  introduced  to  the  early  pioneer 
Baptist,  voicing  the  Macedonian  cr}-,  "Come  over  and 
help  us."'  In  respons(?,  a  modern  Elijah, — a  Baptist  mis- 
sionary appears  in  the  scene,  crying,  in  groves  and  unpre- 
tentious school  houses,  "prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord." 
Soon  a  Mission  Station  and  a  Sunday  school  spring  up, 
followed  by  a  church  and  a  meeting  house.  Interested, 
captivated,  we  gaze,  and  lo,  and  behold,  churches  are  mul- 
tiplied, associations  and  the  Iowa  Baptist  State  Convention 
are  organized,  combining  strength,  and  utilizing  agencies, 
and  means  for  aggressive  work.  In  the  back  ground  are 
the  pastures  of  tlie  buffalo,  the  elk  and  the  deer,  the  hunt- 
ing grounds,  the  camp  fires,  the  trail  of  the  retiring 
Indian,  who,  not  infrequently  puts  in  an  exciting  appear- 
ance, but  wliose  trails  are  often  utilized  by  the  pioneer 
missionary  in  exploring  his  field.  The  passing  view,  is 
varied  by  defeats  and  victories,  clouds,  sunshine,  seeding 
and  li^rvest.  The  closing  scene  anticipates  the  end — the 
mutual  rejoicing  of  the  sowers,  and  the  reapers,  who,  hav- 
ing shouted,  "Harvest  home!""  will  swell  the  enthusiastic 
Hosannas,  and  the  Amen ! 

Made  familiar   with   the  mustard-seed  sowing,  the  ger- 


12  TNTRODUOTIOlSr. 

mal  life,  and  incipient  growth,  we  more  fully  appreciate 
the  subsequent  marvelous  development.  That  in  the  his- 
tory of  Iowa  Baptists,  there  was  emphatically  a  day  of 
small  things,  is  not  disguised ;  a  day  when  in  conscious 
weakness,  the  incxuiry  doubly  italicised,  echoed,  and  re- 
echoed all  along  the  line,  "by  whom  shall  Jacob  arise?" 
for  he  is  small.  As  we  listen,  from  behind  the  clouds,  the 
girding  response,  comes  thrilling  from  lips  divine,  "  not  by 
might,  nor  by  power,  but  by  my  Spirit,  saith  the  Lord. " 
The  means  and  available  force,  seemed  unequal  to  the 
work  demanded,  or  the  results  anticipated.  But  earnest 
men, — men  of  prayer,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  accepted 
the  situation ;  and  before  their  practical  faith,  difficulties 
gave  way,  and  seemingly,  insurmountable  obstacles  were 
converted  into  auxiliaries,  to  push  on  the  work,  and  con- 
summate their  hopes.  With  a  faith,  which  took  hold  of  the 
Divine  arm, — made  available  the  Divine  promise, — they 
identified  themselves  with  the  cause  while  in  the  dark, 
and  helped  it  struggle  up  to  the  light, — adopted  it  in 
its  infancy,  and  helped  it  on  to  the  maturity  of  man- 
hood;— burned  the  bridges  behind  them,  staking  every- 
thing upon  the  issue.  Some  of  those  self- forgetting,  self- 
sacrificing  workers,  have  lived  to  see  the  little  one  become 
many  thousand,  and  the  small  one  a  mighty  force  for 
aggressive  work. 

The  reader,  as  he  considers  the  wonderful  change,  the 
multiplied  churches,  and  associations,  efficient  auxiliaries 
of  the  State  Convention,  marshaling  under  the  watch-word, 
"  Iowa  for  Christ, "  is  prompted  to  underscore  the  exclam- 
ation, "What  hath  God  wrought ! "  and  exultantly  call  upon 
the  early  croakers,  to  come  and  walk  around  our  Iowa 
Zion, — counting  her  towers  of  strength,  considering  her 
bulwarks  of  defense,  and  join  in  magnifying  God's  abound- 
ing grace ;  who  by  favoring  providences,  and  his  guiding 


INTRODUCTION.  13 

spirit,  led  his  people,  as  "  by  a  pillar  of  cloud  by  day,  and 
of  fire  by  night,"  into  the  efficient  occupancy  of  this  broad 
field.^ — this  goodly  land,  than  which  the  sun  never  rose  on 
one  fairer,  or  invested  with  more  startling  possibilities. 

The  uncancelled  debt  of  gratitude,  due  the  American 
Baptist  Home  Mission  Society,  for  primary  and  important 
work,  in  planting  and  fostering  the  early,  and  some  of  the 
more  recently  organized  churches  of  Iowa,  has  not  been 
ignored  in  these  Sketches.  She  is  our  acknowledged  alma 
mater-  Yes,  in  a  very  important  sense,  the  mother  of  us 
all.  True  to  her  maternal  instincts,  when  her  precocious 
Iowa  child,  (I.  B.  S.  C.)  ambitious  to  setup  independently, 
and  manage  for  herself,  assumed  a  load  too  heav}^  for  her 
years,  staggered  and  stumbled,  she  did  not  scold ;  but, 
with  maternal  consideration  and  sympathy,  reached  out  a 
helping  hand,  and  established  her  goings  upon  a  more  per- 
manent basis.  Ignore  the  help  of  the  American  Baptist 
Home  Mission  Society,  and  some  of  the  most  stirring  pages 
in  these  Sketches,  had  never  been  written.  Aye,  you 
change  the  entire  record.  No  marvel,  then,  that  her  praise 
is  upon  the  lips,  and  her  practical  sympathy  embalmed  in 
the  memory  and  liearts  of  Iowa  Baptists.  Long  live  our 
fostering  mother !  May  her  efficiency  be  more  and  more 
augmented  as  the  decades  roll  on. 

The  author  has  acknowledged  and  underscored  the 
importance  of  the  Sunday  School  work.  Indeed,  the  Sun- 
day School  is  recognized  as  an  essential  factor  in  the  high- 
est efficiency  of  the  church,  an  indispensable  auxiliary  in 
the  execution  of  her  sublime  mission.  From  this  source, 
under  God,  she  has  come  largely  to  look  for  recruits.  In- 
deed, many  of  her  most  efficient  workers,  are  honored 
graduates  from  the  Sunday  School.  Point  us  to  a  church 
in  these  times,  which  ignores  the  Sunday  School,  and  we 
will  point  you  to  a  church  whose  banners  trail  in  the  dust. 


14  INTRODUCTION. 

Every  intelligent  Baptist  will  rejoice  In  the  prominence 
given  in  this  volume  to  educational  matters.  There  was 
early  manifested  a  commendable  zeal  in  this  direction;  that 
it  was  always  according  to  knowledge,  is  not  claimed.  Pri- 
mary schools  and  higher  institutions  of  learning  have 
been  established.  Burlington  College.  Osage  Seminary, 
Central  and  Des  Moines  Universities,  have  done  a  grand 
work.  But,  that  early  and  continued  concert  would  have 
augmented  the  efficiency  of  that  work,  is  not  questioned. 
Proposals  for  the  unification  of  the  two  Universities,  on  a 
liberal  basis,  have  been  made,  which  inspires  hope  of  a 
brighter  day.     May  it  not  prove  a  forlorn  hope. 

The  Iowa  Baptist  Union  for  Ministerial  Education,  is 
the  legitimate  offspring  of  the  Convention.  The  author 
magnifies,  but  not  unduly,  the  importance  of  its  work. 
Many  of  its  beneficiaries  have  developed  into  efficient  pas- 
tors. Ignore  the  work  of  ministerial  education,  and  you 
strike  down  many  a  standard-bearer  from  Zion's  stormy 
battlements,  multiply  the  number  of  pastorless  churches, 
recall  some  of  the  most  successful  workers  in  the  foreign 
field,  and  forestall  some  of  the  grandest  achievements  for 
the  world's  redemption. 

Said  Spurgeon,  "The  first  and  most  important  work  of 
the  church,  is  the  multiplication  of  laborers."  And  is  not 
that  orthodox  i  Were  Christ  in  person  to  attend  some  of 
our  Baptist  anniversaries,  he  doubtless  would  endorse 
many  resolutions  which  are  spread  upon  their  minutes, 
sustaining  them  with  overwhelming  arguments  and  moving 
appeals,  stirring  the  hearts  of  the  most  covetous,  intensi- 
fying the  practical  sympathy  of  the  most  benevolent, 
emptying  the  coffers  of  the  rich,  and  calling  forth  the  wid- 
ow's mite.  But  were  he  with  his  own  Divine  hand  to  frame 
an  article  to  be  placed  upon  these  annual  documents,  char- 
acteristic of-  himself,  and  bearing  upon  its  very   face,  a 


INTRODUCTION.  l5 

distinctive  feature  of  his  own  views  of  Christian  agency  in 
building  up  his  kingdom,  it  doubtless  would  be  couched  in 
his  memorable  words  ;  "  The  harvest  truly  is  plenteous,  but 
the  laborers  are  few.  Pray  ye  therefore,  the  Lord  of  the 
harvest,  that  lie  id  ill  send  forth  laborers  into  his  harvest.'^'' 
An  enlightened  acceptance  of  the  implied  conditions  of  that 
prayer  involves  the  legitimate  work  of  the  Iowa  Baptist 
Union  for  Ministerial  Education.  With  stirring  Macedo- 
nian appeals  coming  from  the  East  and  the  West, — the 
North  and  the  South  ;  and  harvest  fields  ripe  for  the  reap- 
ers, deepening  and  widening,  and  waving  in  the  distance, 
shall  that  prayer  be  ignored  %  Nay  verily.  It  shall  never 
become  obsolete  until  every  land,  every  mountain  and  val- 
ley and  heathen  jungle  shall  echo  and  re-echo  with  the 
herald  voice  of  salvation.  Aye,  until  the  exultant  acclaim 
shall  echo  from  earth  to  heaven,  and  from  heaven  to  earth, 
"  the  kingdoms  of  this  world,  are  become  the  kingdoms  of 
our  Lord,  and  of  his  Christ. " 

These  pages  are  also  enriched  with  the  exceptionally 
bright  record,  which  Iowa  Baptists  have  made  in  the 
Foreign  service.  Home  demands,  home  destitution,  have 
not  been  made  a  pretext  for  ignoring  the  claims  of  the 
perishing  millions  in  heathen  lands.  Not  only  has  a 
liberal  response  been  made  to  appeals  for  funds,  but  some 
of  the  choicest  of  their  sons  and  daughters  have  been  con- 
secrated to  the  work;  have  borne  the  lamp  of  life  amidst 
the  death  shades  of  benighted  millions,  perishing  beyond 
the  seas.  Miss  Garton,  Miss  Miller,  Rev.  Loughridge  and 
wife,  Rev.  J.  E.  Clough  and  wife,  Rev.  Dr.  Keith  and  others 
have  performed  a  work  there,  the  results  of  which  can 
never  be  measured,  until  the  influence  of  their  earnest, 
self-sacrificing  toil,  reaching  down  the  revolving  ages  to 
the  end  of  time,  shall  have  been  gathered  up  and  reviewed 
under  the  blaze  of  eternity's  broad  sun  light. 


16  INTEODUCTION. 

Iowa  cliurclies  instead  of  being  depleted,  weakened  by 
this  liberal  polic3%  have  been  strengthened,  built  up;  for 
"good  measure,  pressed  down,  shaken  together,  and  run- 
ning over,"  lias  been  returned.  Never  were  the  Iowa 
churches  stronger,  or  served  by  more  efficient  pastors,  and 
educators  than  now, — men  able  to  measure  swords  with  the 
champions  of  infidelity;  and,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  to 
lead  Zion's  marshaling  hosts  into  the  gathering  conflict— a 
conflict,  which  in  the  words  of  the  late  George  W.  Eaton, 
LL.  D.,  is  "more  fearful  in  its  aspect  and  more  tremendous 
in  its  final  issue  than  ever  raged  upon  the  battle  field  of 
nations." 

These  sketches  were  not  written  by  a  pessimist  or  a 
croaker:  they  are  replete  with  cheer  and  hope,  coufidentl}^ 
predicting  continued  and  enlarged  success,  and  in  the  near 
or  more  distant  future,  a  brilliant  victory.  God  speed  the 
predicted  day ! 

I  take  great  pleasure  in  commending  to  Iowa,  and  all 
Baptists  and  the  reading  public  this  beautiful,  well-written 
volume — replete  with  facts,  stranger  than  fiction;  involving 
some  of  the  brighest  pages  and  most  stirring  chapters  in 
the  records  of  the  denomination. 

The  author,  like  Paul,  might  have  indulged  in  some 
personal  reminiscenses,  as  of  "labors  more  abundant,  in 
journeyings  often,  in  weariness,  in  hunger  and  thirst,  in  perils 
by  land  and  by  water,"  amidst  burning  prairies,  blinding- 
blizzards,  storms  and  devastating  cyclones,  including  provi- 
dential escapes  and  miraculous  deliverances  from  the  very 
jaws  of  death.  But  constitutional  modesty  restrained  his 
pen.  Moreover,  an  exhaustive  history  of  Iowa  Baptists 
would  involve  copious  extracts  from  the  great  memorial 
book  on  high,  upon  whose  enduring  pages,  unwritten 
chapters  have  been  stereotyped. 


INTKODUCTIOI^. 


17 


But  when  we  meet  and  greet  in  the  great  beyond,  having 
access  to  those  imperishable  records,  we  shall  review  this 
history  more  in  detail;  not  to  boast  of  any  labor  performed 
or  to  murmur  of  any  trials  endured.  No,  no.  But  to  mag- 
nify the  grace  which  girded  for  the  toil,  and  sanctified  to 
us  the  trial;  that  with  a  more  bounding  throb  of  gratitude 
and  a  richer  song  of  praise,  we  may  celebrate  the  wonderful 
achievements  of  the  Great  Captain  of  our  Salvation;  and 
adoringly  cast  ourselves  and  our  crowns  at  His  feet,  voicing 
and  underscoring  those  stirring  words,  '"'■not  unto  us,  not 
unto  2is,  M/t  unto  tliy  name  give  glory.'''' 

Dexter  P,  Smith. 


CHAPTER  I. 


Beginnings — The  First  Church — Constituent  Members. 
Illinois  Preachers. 

lOME  few  years  prior  to  1834,  the  date  at 
I  which  our  story  begins,  in  a  revival  of  relig- 
\  ion,  it  is  supposed,  in  the  Brush  Creek  Bap- 
1  tist  church  in  Green  County,  Kentuclvy,  two 
young  persons  of  humble  parentage  and  cir- 
cnmstances  were  converted  to  God  and  immersed  into  the 
name  of  the  Father  and  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Spirit. 
Their  names  were  William  Manly  and  Hepzibah  Mathes. 
The  latter  and  her  sister,  afterwards  Mrs.  Chandler,  were 
baptized  into  the  fellowship  of  the  Brush  Creek  church  by 
Rev.  Johnson  Graham,  their  pastor.  In  a  year  or  two  after 
their  baptism  these  two  were  united  in  marriage,  and  in 
1834  removed  to  the  then  territory  of  Iowa,  on  the  west 
bank  of  the  Mississippi  river.  When  they  landed,  where 
the  city  of  Burlington  now  is,  they  found  four  or  five  log 
huts.  The  spring  of  1835  may  be  regarded  as  the  begin- 
ning of  white  settlements  in  this  part  of  Iowa.  There  was, 
as  far  as  is  known,  no  religious  organization.  Brother  and 
sister  Manly  and  a  few  other  Baptists  from  Illinois  and 
Kentucky  were  among  the  earliest  settlers.  Though  young 
and  inexperienced,  and  coming  to  take  up  their  abode  in 


20  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

an  almost  unbroken  wilderness,  they  had  had  the  fore- 
thought to  bring  with  them  a  copy  of  the  articles  of  faith 
of  the  Brush  Creek  Baptist  church,  and  thej^  were  not  long 
to  remain  without  church  privileges.  There  was  evidently 
the  will,  and  the  Lord  soon  opened  the  way.  Desirous  of 
organizing  themselves  into  a  regular  Baptist  church,  the 
hardy  pioneers  invited  Elder  John  Logan,  of  McDonough 
county,  Illinois,  to  come  over  and  preach  to  them  and  as- 
sist them  in  their  purpose. 

On  the  19th  day  of  October,  1834,  Elder  Logan  and 
Gardner  Bartlett  arrived  in  the  settlement.  On  the  same 
evening,  in  the  rude  hut  of  Noble  Hously,  Elder  Logan 
preached,  it  is  believed,  the  first  sermon  ever  preached  in 
this  part  of  Iowa,  by  an  evangelical  minister  to  a  congrega- 
tion of  white  people.  On  the  next  day  after  another  ser- 
mon in  the  same  place,  by  the  same  preacher,  the  following 
brethren  and  sisters  were  organized  into  the  Regular  Baptist 
church  at  Long  Creek,  Iowa,  now  the  Danville  Baptist 
church.  Their  names  were  :  Enoch  Cyrus,  Rebecca  Cyrus, 
Anna  C^-rus,  Frank  C^a-us,  Rachel  Dickens,  Mary  Ann 
Dickens,  Noble  Hously,  Naomi  Housley,  William  Manly, 
Hepzibah  Manly  and  Jane  Lamb.  The  Articles  of  Faith 
adopted  were  those  of  the  Brush  Creek  church,  brought  by 
sister  Manly,  and  are  still  preserved  in  the  records  of  the 
Danville  churcn.  Though  somewhat  crude  in  their  phrase- 
ology, they  are  eminently  sound  and  clear  in  all  the  doc- 
trines that  characterize  Baptist  churches  at  the  present 
day. 

Thus  we  have  the  record  of  the  planting  of  the  Baptist 
tree  in  the  soil  of  Iowa.  Before  we  proceed  to  note  the 
successive  steps  of  its  growth,  let  us  pause  for  a  moment's 
meditation  upon  the  time. 

Fifty  years  ago  !     What  changes  have  marked  this  half 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  21 

century  in  the  world's  history  !  AVhat  an  epoch  in  the 
annals  of  our  Baptist  life  !  The  greatest  preacher  of  mod- 
ern times,  C.  H.  Spurgeon,  was  then  an  infant  in  his  moth- 
er's arms.  A  few  months  before  Barnas  Sears  had  baptized 
that  historic  group,  the  hero  Oncken  and  his  five  associates 
in  Germany.  By  and  by  Oncken  was  to  be  welcomed,  as 
our  annals  will  show,  under  the  shadow  of  this  Iowa  Bap- 
tist tree,  and  to  water  its  roots  with  the  refreshing  stream 
of  his  own  gracious  life  and  words.  One  of  the  ministries 
of  these  reminiscences,  we  trust,  will  be  to  emphasize  the 
preciousness  of  these  sanctified  associations  of  the  great 
Christian  brotherhood,  to  remind  us  of  the  connection  we 
are  permitted  to  have  with  the  mighty  movements  of  the 
age. 

This  Iowa  Baptist  brotherhood  now,  in  1834,  begins  its 
history  with  a  single  church  and  a  membership  of  eleven 
souls.  A  few  more  may  have  been  received  before  the  year 
closed.  One,  still  living,  sister  Chandler  of  the  Danville 
church,  then  a  widow  and  sister  of  Mrs  Manly,  came  within 
a  week  or  two  after  the  organization.  Also  AYm.  Matlies 
and  family.  ''The  visits  of  the  Illinois  preacher.  Elder 
Logan,  were  continued,  at  irregular  intervals  perhaps,  up  to 
the  spring  of  1836.  "  Up  to  this  time  we  have  no  record  of 
any  Baptist  minister  settled  in  Iowa. 

The  next  record  of  organization  is  that  of  a  church 
about  six  miles  southwest  of  Burlington,  by  Elders  James 
Lemen,  Moses  Lemen  and  John  Clark,  from  Rock  Springs, 
Illinois.  The  name  at  first  adopted  for  this  church  and  an 
incident  out  of  which  the  name  grew,  are  suggestive  of  a 
struggle  already  begun,  which  has  since  borne  a  ric^h  har- 
vest to  humanity.  The  name  chosen  for  this  second  organ- 
ization was  "  The  Baptized  church  of  Christ,  Friends  to 
Humanity.  "  It  had  its  origin  in  Kentucky  under  the 
labors  of  Elder  Clark  who  had  formerly  been  a  member  of 


22  HISTOKICAL   SKETCHES 

the  M.  E.  church.  When  about  to  close  his  connection 
with  that  body  he  refused  to  take  his  pay  for  services  ren- 
dered ;  the  reason  stated  in  his  own  words  being,  "  It  is  the 
price  of  blood.  "  When  asked,  "What  shall  we  do  with 
it  then  ?  "  he  replied,  "Buy  a  place  to  bury  the  negroes  in, " 
which  it  is  said  they  did.  This  second  Iowa  organization 
was  afterwards  called"  Rock  Spring,  "  and  after  a  few  years 
became  extinct. 

Of  the  Illinois  ministers  mentioned  above  we  find  the 
names  of  Gardner  Bartlett,  John  Logan,  Moses  Lemen  and 
John  Clark,  as  missionaries  of  the  American  Baptist  Home 
Mission  Societ}^  in  1834.  Some  of  them  two  or  three  years 
earlier. 

In  1889  material  for  histor}^  began  to  increase,  with  the 
first  associational  organization.  This  we  reserve  for  the 
beginning  of  the  next  chapter. 


CHAPTER  II. 


First    Association — Name — Ministers. — Second    Asso- 
ciation— Early  Churches. 


jT  is  the  characteristic  of  Baptist  churches  to 
seek  association  as  drops  of  water  flow  into 
each  other.  Accordingly,  as  soon  as  there 
are  three  or  four  churches  in  the  new  territory 
of  Iowa,  we  find  tliem  moving  into  association. 

The  third  church  organized  seems  to  have  been  the 
Pisgah  church,  twelve  miles  north  of  Burlington,  in  1838, 
and  the  fourth  probably  the  Union  church,  in  Lee  county, 
not  far  from  the  Des  Moines  river,  in  1839.  In  August, 
1839,  at  the  regular  monthly  meeting  of  the  Long  Creek 
(now  Danville)  church,  they  were  met  by  delegates  from 
the  Rock  Spring  and  Pisgah  churches,  and  the  first  asso- 
ciational  organization  took  place.  The  place  of  meeting 
was  in  a  grove  about  fourteen  miles  west  of  Burlington. 
The  entire  membership  of  the  three  churches  was  less  than 
ninety,  the  number  of  delegates  present  ten.  "The  organ- 
ization was  effected  and  the  entire  business  of  the  meeting 
transacted,  while  nine  of  these  delegates  sat  in  a  row  on  a 
log,  and  the  Moderator  stood  before  them  supported  by 
the  back  of  a  chair." 


24  HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES 

It  appears  from  the  only  data  in  my  possession  that 
Jonah  Todd  was  Moderator,  and  Alexander  Evans,  Clerk, 
and  that  Hezekiah  Johnson  preached  the  introductory 
sermon.  The  name  at  first  chosen  was  "The  Iowa  Baptist 
Association."  This  was  afterwards,  upon  the  organization 
of  another,  changed  to  the  Des  Moines  Association.  It 
did  not,  perhaps,  occur  to  the  brethren  at  the  time  that 
they  should,  in  many  years,  be  under  the  necessity  of 
changing  the  name  to  make  it  appropriately  descriptive. 

As  illustrative  of  the  '"unexpected"  that  has  been  con- 
stantly "happening"  in  the  growth  of  this  great  region, 
I  am  reminded  here  of  an  incident  related  to  me  by  one 
who  was,  if  I  remember  correctly,  present,  at  a  somewhat 
earlier  date.  It  was  in  Northern  Ohio  or  Western  New- 
York.  A  Baptist  Association  was  being  organized,  and  it 
had  been  proposed  to  call  it  the  Northwestern  Baptist 
Association.  It  was  then  the  farthest  northwest  of  any 
Baptist  organization.  The  name  seemed  appropriate,  and 
was  about  to  i)ass  unchallenged.  But  there  was  one  brother 
more  sanguine  than  the  rest  who,  with  some  hesitation, 
evidently  feeling  that  he  might  be  regarded  as  a  little 
wild,  drew  himself  up  and  said  something  like  this; 
"Brethren,  I  don't  know  about  the  name.  It  maybe  that 
the  time  may  come  when  it  would  be  a  misnomer. 
Indeed,"  said  he,  "I  should  not  be  surprised  if  some  of  us 
should  live  to  see  the  day  when  there  will  be  a  Baptist 
Association  still  west  of  us^  This  was  scarcely  more  than 
two  generations  ago.     Comment  is  not  needed. 

We  come  now  to  note  the  beginnings  of  growth.  The 
mustard  seed  has  been  planted  in  the  garden  of  Iowa  soil, 
and  the  branches  have  begun  to  put  forth. 

We  take  our  first  standpoint  at  the  year  1840.  The 
mother  church  is  now  six  years  old.     To  the  four  churches 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  25 

before  iianied,  Long  Creek,  Rock  Spring,  Union  and 
Pisgah,  liave  now  been  added  one  each  at  Davenport  and 
Le  Claire,  and  possibly  at  Dubuque  and  Keosauc^ua. 
Later  tables  place  the  organization  at  Dubuc^ue  in  1841, 
and  the  one  at  Keosauqua  seems  never  to  have  had  more 
than  a  very  dim  "visibility."  The  ministers  who  entered  the 
State  prior  to  1840,  were  Alexander  Evans,  Hezekiah  John- 
son, Ezra  Fisher  and  Calvin  Greenleaf.  The  only  account 
I  have  found  of  the  last  is  that  he  was  under  commission 
of  the  Home  Mission  Society  at  Davenport,  in  1839  eight 
weeks,  and  from  1835  to  1838  at  Griggsville,  Illinois. 
Alexandei"  Evans  was  under  appointment  at  Burlington 
and  surrounding  country  four  years — 1839  to  1841  inclu- 
sive— except  less  than  half  of  1841.  Hezekiah  John- 
son was  under  appointment  most  of  the  time  as  an  itin- 
erant from  1839  to  1844.  He  came  from  Ohio  in  183G,  and 
left  for  Oregon  in  1844.  Elder  Evans  came  from  Indiana 
in  1839,  and  left  for  Oregon  in  1845.  During  four  j^ears  of 
this  time  he  was  pastor  of  the  Long  Creek  Church.  The 
spiritual  activity  of  these  pioneers  must  have  been  remark- 
able. In  a  history  of  the  oldest  Church,  Rev.  R.  King  says, 
''One  peculiar  feature  was  its  gradual  and  constant  growth. 
Conversions  seemed  to  take  place  through  the  entire  year, 
and  baptisms  are  reported  at  twenty-three  regular  monthly 
meetings,  in  a  period  of  four  years  and  ten  months."  In 
1841  a  Church  was  organized  at  Farmington,  and  also  one 
at  Muscatine,  then  called  Bloomington,  probably  by  Ezra 
Fisher.  In  the  same  year  W.  B.  Morey  is  commissioned 
by  the  Home  Mission  Society  thirteen  weeks  at  Iowa  City. 
The  next  year,  1842,  marks  an  epoch  in  our  history  upon 
which  we  may  well  bestow  more  than  a  passing  notice. 
"In  response  to  a  call  voted  by  the  Des  Moines  Association 
in  1841,  a  Convention  of  brethren  from  the  Baptist  churches 
in  Iowa  Territory,  was  held  in  Iowa  City  on  the  third  and 
8 


r ~ ^ "~™~ 

26  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

fourth  days  of  June,  1842,  to  consider  the  expediency  of 
forming  a  Territorial  Association  for  Missionary  purposes." 
The  names  are  preserved  of  twenty -five  delegates  who  were 
present  at  tliis  meeting,  eight  ministers,  and  seventeen 
laymen.  The  names  are  as  follows:  Elders  Ezra  Fisher, 
B.  Carpenter,  Hezekiah  Johnson,  J.  W.  Todd,  M.  J.  Post, 
W.  B.  Morey,  Charles  E.  Brown  and  Ira  Blanchard.  Lay- 
men, Stephen  Headly,  Amos  Matthews,  M.  W.  Rudd,  J. 
M.  Choate,  J.  Brown,  A.  Denison,  J.  Parks,  J.  Wolf,  R.  C. 
Mason,  Henry  A.  Ritner,  Joseph  Downing,  E.  Whipple, 
Henry  Headly,  John  N.  Headly,  AVm.  Elliott,  John  Potter 
and  Benjamin  F.  Pike. 

Of  these  Rev.  Charles  E.  Brown  is  still  living  in 
Northern  Iowa,  his  praise  in  many  churches  where  he  has 
labored  in  word  and  doctrine  during  the  forty -four  years 
of  the  Convention  history.  M.  W.  Radd  recently  closed  a 
quiet  and  useful  life  in  Washington,  Iowa,  and  was  pro- 
moted to  a  well-earned  rest  above.  This  brother,  with 
perhaps  some  others,  walked  seventy-five  miles  to  attend 
the  meeting  for  organization  of  the  Convention. 

Of  another  brother  yet  living,  we  use  his  own  words: 
He  was  "a  poor  bashful  boy,  afraid  of  his  own  shadow, 
far  from  home,  in  a  land  of  strangers,  glad  to  be  let  alone." 
This  was  William  Elliott.  A  licentiate  at  rlie  time,  he  was 
not  long  let  alone.  His  shadow  certainly  never  grew  less, 
nor  is  it  likely  that  his  fear  increased.  He  was  ordained 
in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  at  Rochester,  three  miles  from 
Keusauqua.  Members  of  the  council  were,  Hezekiah 
Johnson,  A.  Burnett,  Alexander  Evans,  M.  J.  Post,  John 
Bond,  Daniel  Jewett  and  M.  W.  Rudd.  For  over  forty-one 
years  he  "has  travelled  over  the  trackless  prairies,  by 
night  and  by  day,  swimming  swollen  streams  and  preach- 
ing the  Gospel  continually."     "His  natural  force,"  not  yet 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  27 

greatly  "abated,*'  lie  has  recently  gone  to  Nebraska  to  try 
again  pioneer  life.  Bro.  Elliott  was  probably  the  first 
Baptist  minister  ordained  in  Iowa,  unless  M.  J.  Post  was 
ordained  here. 

There  were  now,  at  the  organization  of  the  convention, 
382  members  in  the  territory  in  somewhere  from  ten  to  fifteen 
churches.  At  the  same  meeting  at  Iowa  City,  "delegates 
from  the  churches  north  of  the  Iowa  River  had  an  informal 
meeting  and  considered  the  matter  of  forming  another  dis- 
trict association;"  and  September  16,  of  the  same  year,  a 
meeting  was  held  in  Davenport,  "in  a  small  one-and-a-half 
story  building  on  Front  Street,"  and  the  Davenport  Asso- 
ciation was  constituted.  There  were  delegates  present 
from  seven  churches,  including  the  one  at  Rock  Island  in 
Illinois.  The  aggregate  membership  was  eightj'^-six.  As 
illustrating  some  of  the  experiences  of  these  pioneers,  and 
the  questions  to  be  settled.  Rev.  Charles  E.  Brown,  who 
was  at  the  organization,  says,  "Fixing  the  time  of  year  for 
the  annual  meeting  of  the  Association  was  attended  with 
some  difficulty.  There  were  two  considerations  to  be 
taken  into  the  account.  (1),  To  avoid  the  sickly  season, 
and  (2),  to  have  the  meeting  to  occur  at  the  time  of  the 
year  when  wild  fruits,  fresh  vegetables  and  fat  chickens 
would  be  plenty.  The  Friday  before  the  third  Sunday  in 
September  was  fixed  upon,  and  so  remained  until  'wise 
men  came  from  the  East'  and  said  the  time  must  be 
changed  to  the  middle  of  the  week." 

AVe  will  now  take  our  stand  at  1844,  the  completion  of 
one  decade.  Membership  in  the  State  has  increased  to 
592;  forty-two  baptisms  are  reported  for  the  year. 
Churches,  not  before  mentioned,  have  been  organized,  at 
Washington  in  1841,  at  Bonaparte  in  the  same  year,  at 
Iowa  City  1842,   and    the  Providence   church  near  Troy, 


28  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

Davis  county,  in  1842.  The  last  is  a  country  church  and 
seems  to  have  maintained  its  existence  until  the  present 
time. 

Of  the  beginning  of  the  work  at.Washington,  we  have 
some  data  worth  the  mention.  The  town  of  Wasliington, 
Washington  county,  was  located  in  1839.  The  first  Bap- 
tists in  the  county  were  Deacon  Calvin  Craven  and  his 
wife,  who  settled  six  miles  northwest  of  the  town  in  1840, 
On  Saturday,  October  2,  1841,  they,  with  Isaac  Arnold  and 
wife,  and  Samuel  Kitz  and  wife,  with  perhaps  some  others, 
were  organized  into  a  Baptist  church.  Elder  H.  Johnson 
preached  a  sermon  from  Daniel  ii.  44.  This  is  probably 
the  oldest  record  of  the  text  of  a  sermon  preached  in  Iowa. 
Bro.  Craven  is  still  living  at  his  home  occupied  in  1840, 
his  wife  having  recently  preceded  him  to  the  better  home 
above.  At  the  close  of  this  first  decade  the  Home  Mission 
Society  is  found  vigorously  pushing  its  work  in  Iowa  Ter- 
ritory. In  1842  it  has  had  seven  missionaries  here,  and  in 
1843  eight.  But  in  1844  the  number  is  increased  to  twelve. 
They  are  H.  Johnson,  itinerant,  C.  E.  Brown,  Davenport 
(twenty-six  weeks),  B.  Carpenter,  Dubuque,  M.  J.  Post, 
Fox  River,  Wm.  Elliott,  itinerant,  J.  N.  Seeley,  Bloom- 
ington  (Muscatine),  W.  B.  Morey,  Iowa  City,  Daniel  Dye, 
Davenport  (twenty-six  weeks),  Edwin  S.  Byron,  Dubuque 
(twenty-six  weeks),  Hamilton  Robb,  Keosauqua,  Horace 
Eaton,  Davis  county,  and  Wm.  Sperry,  Dubuque  (twenty- 
six  weeks).  It  will  be  seen  then  how  the  branches  of  the 
Baptist  tree  are  gradually  spreading  over  Iowa  soil. 


CHAPTER  III. 


Peculiarities    of    the    Field— Ai>f ecu otes    of    Early 
Iowa   History — Elements    of    Growth— Seed- 
Sowing —  Colporteur  Work — Baptist 
Centres — Disappointments. 

EFORE  proceeding  to  sketch  the  growth  of 
Iowa  Baptists  in  the  second  decade,  begin- 
ning with  1845,  it  may  be  well  to  note  some 
of  the  peculiarties  ot  the  field  in  which  this 
growth  was  to  take  place. 
In  1834,  when  onr  story  began,  the  territory  now  com- 
prising the  state  of  Iowa  was  "placed  under  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  territory  of  Michigan.  Two  years  later  the  territory 
of  Wisconsin  was  created,  including  what  is  now  Iowa. 
In  1838  Iowa  itself  was  made  a  territory,  and  December  28, 
1846,  it  was  admitted  to  the  Union  as  a  State."  [See  Ency- 
clopedia Britannica;  Article,  Icnoa.^  In  1836  there  were  but 
two  counties,  Des  Moines,  with  a  population  of  6,257,  and 
Dubuque,  with  4,274  ;  total  10,531. 

It  would  be  safe  to  assume  that  the  elements  of  society 
opposed  to  the  gospel  would  be  about  the  same  here  as 
elsewhere.  The  followers  of  Cain  had  preceded,  probably, 
those  of  him  whose  blood  "speaketh  better  things  than  that 


30  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

of  Abel."  The  first  execution  for  murder  was  in  June, 
1834,  that  of  Patrick  O'Connor,  at  Dubuque,  for  the  murder 
of  one  George  O'Keaf.  Judge  Lynch  presided  at  the  trial. 
Two  or  three  anecdotes  will  serve  to  show  some  of  the 
forms  of  sin.  About  1839  there  was  a  dispute  between  Iowa 
and  Missouri  concerning  the  boundary  line  between  them. 
A  strip  of  territory  six  miles  wide  was  claimed  by  both. 
It  was  likely  to  come  to  arms.  Angry  forces  were  gather- 
ing on  either  side  and  moving  to  the  front,  when  happily 
better  counsels  prevailed,  and  the  dispute  was  settled  in 
favor  of  Iowa.  It  is  related  that  before  the  settlement  one 
Iowa  officer  started  to  the  Missouri  border  with  rliirty  men 
and  six  provision  wagons.  Of  the  ^ys.  fixe  were  freighted 
with  whisTiey. 

In  1841  an  anti-slavery  meeting  at  Washington  was 
being  addressed  by  Samuel  Howe,  of  Mount  Pleasant,  and 
a  Congregational  preacher  from  Brighton,  Iowa.  An 
attempt  was  made  to  break  up  the  meeting.  Here  again 
the  principal  disturbing  elements  were  whiskey  and  the 
loungers  about  the  saloon.  There  is  evidence  that  our 
Baptist  fathers  were  actively  engaged  for  the  right  from 
the  first. 

The  following  anecdote  illustrates  the  kind  of  appeal  our 
hardy  pioneers  were  wont  to  make,  and  their  success,  often- 
times, with  the  roughest  characters.  It  was  in  Dubuque. 
A  person  was  soliciting  aid  of  a  number  of  young  men  to 
build  the  first  meeting  house  in  the  territory — a  Metho- 
dist. The  solicitor  is  described  as  a  tall,  angular,  some- 
what uncouth  frontiersman,  with  only  one  eye.  One  of 
the  group  of  young  men  solicited,  responded,  '"he  would 
give  a  dollar  towards  the  building  of  a  gambling  house, 
but  nothing  for  a  church."  The  old  man  drew  himself  up, 
and  directing  his  one  eye  upon  the  group,  said  in  a  mild 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  31 

tone  of  voice:  "You  are  all  young  men  who,  I  have  no 
doubt,  have  been  raised  by  Christian  parents.  Many  of 
you  may  live  to  raise  families  upon  'the  Purchase.'  If  so, 
I  am  sure  none  of  you  will  blush  when  you  tell  your 
children  that  you  helped  to  build  the  first  meeting  house 
on  the  'Blackhawk  Purchase.'"  After  two  or  three  min- 
utes' silence,  the  young  man  broke  out:  "Old  Hoss,  here's 
a  dollar,"  and  was  followed  by  all  the  others  with  from 
fifty  cents  to  a  dollar  each. 

We  turn  now  more  directly  to  our  own  history  for  the 
second  decade.  During  the  first  half  of  this  period,  from 
1845  to  1850,  the  growth  seems  to  have  been  rather  slow. 
It  was  the  time  of  the  great  movement  across  the  plains  to 
Oregon  and  California.  Prior  to  1850  no  less  than  five  of 
the  pioneer  Baptist  ministers  of  Iowa  had  removed  to 
Oregon,  and  were  followed  soon  after  by  two  or  three 
others.  In  1845  there  were  190  Baptisms,  and  the  total 
membership  was  523.  There  were  yet  but  the  two  Associa- 
tions. The  third  Association,  the  Fox  River,  was  not 
organized  till  1849.  This  was  on  the  southern  border, 
stretching  towards  the  Missouri  River.  Churches  not 
before  mentioned  had  been  organized  at  Mount  Pleasant 
in  1843,  at  Agency  City  in  1844,  at  Liberty  ville  in  1845,  and 
at  Fairfield  in  the  same  year.  At  Blue  Grass,  in  Scott 
county,  there  was  an  organization  in  the  same  year  (1845); 
also  the  Liberty  cliurch,  near  Charleston,  in  Lee  county. 
At  Lamotte,  Jackson  county,  in  1844,  and  Maquoketa  in 

1848,  and  in  the  same  year  at  Marion,  Linn  county.     In 

1849,  probably,  there  were  two  churches  organized  in 
Davis  county,— North  Union  and  Chequest  Union.  There 
seems  to  have  been  an  organization  at  Leon,  in  Decatur 
county,  as  early  as  1848.  To  those  at  all  observant  of  the 
geography  of  Iowa,  these  figures  will  be  instructive  as  to 
the  spread  of  the  work  in  those  parts  of  the  state. 


32  IIISTOEICAL   SKETCHES 

From  a  table  furnislied  by  Rev.  T.  S.  Griffith,  then  of 
Keokuk,  in  1862,  for  the  dates  respectively  of  1850  and 
1861,  we  have  the  following  facts.  The  statistics  are  said 
to  be  as  nearly  correct  as  could  be  furnished  at  the  time. 
There  were,  in  1850,  Baptist  churches  in  25  of  the  100  coun- 
ties of  the  state.  Whole  number  of  churches  54 ;  ministers 
32;  members,  1,654;  baptized  previous  to  that  date,  1,095; 
meeting  houses,  13  in  9  counties.  According  to  the  Con- 
vention Minutes  the  whole  number  in  1850  Avas  1,144, 
The  discrepancy  would  be  easily  accounted  for  by  allow- 
ing for  unreported  churches  and  members.  The  estimated 
value  of  church  property  at  this  time  was  $23,700. 

In  the  foregoing  statistics  I  have  tried  to  photograph 
the  elements  of  growth  in  our  Baptist  Zion  up  to  the  date 
named.  One  of  the  earliest  pioneers,  speaking  of  the  con- 
ditions of  this  work,  says:  "These  were  not  the  days  of 
railroad  coaches  and  cushioned  carriages,  but  of  immigrant 
trails,  unbridged  rivers,  creeks  and  sloughs,  old  lumber 
wagons,  prairie  schooners  and  worn-out  saddles.  One 
missionary  and  his  wife  came  forty  miles  to  the  first  meet- 
ing of  the  Davenport  Association  on  a  one-horse  cart, 
constructed  out  of  the  hind  wheels  and  axle  of  an  old 
lumber  wagon,  with  a  couple  of  old  rails  for  thills  and  a 
bundle  of  oats  for  a  cushion.''  It  is  said  that  the  good 
people  of  Davenport,  even  at  this  early  day,  evinced  a  little 
pride  in  the  nervous  haste  with  which,  as  soon  as  the  min- 
ister and  his  wife  had  alighted,  they  "hustled  the  cart 
behind  the  barn." 

Doubtless  an  important  factor  in  the  seed-sowing  of 
these  early  days,  from  which  a  rich  harvest  has  since  been 
reaped,  was  the  dissemination  of  religious  books.  In  1844, 
Lewis  Colby,  a  publisher  in  New  York,  consigned  to  M. 
W.  Rudd  six  hundred  dollars'  worth  of  books,  which  Bro. 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  33 

Rudd  carried  from  settlement  to  settlement,  on  his  back, 
and  on  foot,  striding  his  way  often,  he  says,  for  miles, 
with  a  pack  of  books  almost  as  heavy  as  a  bushel  of  wheat 
upon  his  shoulders.  One  trip  he  gives  an  account  of,  in 
which  he  visited  Maquoketa,  Anamosa,  Marion  and  Cedar 
Rapids,  and  thence  to  the  home  of  L.  F.  Temple,  near 
Agency  City;  thus  almost  encircling  the  settlements  of  the 
entire  territory -of  that  time.  Who  can  estimate  the  fruits 
that  may  be  gathered  in  tlie  Lord's  own  way  and  time, 
from  the  seed  thus  laboriously  sown  'i 

L.  F.  Temple  and  the  Baptist  settlement  at  Agency  City, 
evidently,  at  one  time,  promised  to  become  an  important 
Baptist  center.  It  was  at  the  very  border  line  of  the  "New 
Purchase,"  and  to  all  appearance  an  important  strategic 
point  for  our  broad-minded  fathers  to  occupy  for  the 
prosecution  of  the  great  work  which  they  already  discerned 
in  the  opening  domain,  stretching  out  to  the  west  and  north 
beyond.  Although  unforseen  changes  caused  their  plans 
seemingly  to  fall  to  the  ground  for  the  time,  we  cannot  but 
admire  the  courage  and  tlie  foresight,  as  well  as  the  conse- 
cration to  the  Master's  cause,  that  show  themselves  in  the 
plans  proposed  by  those  who  first  began  to  occupy  this 
field.  L.  F.  Temple  yielded  to  the  force  of  the  gold 
excitement  that  swept  so  many  across  the  plains,  went  to 
California,  and  died  of  cholera  at  New  Orleans  on  his 
return  to  "the  States." 

How  many  disappointments  of  our  work  have  grown 
out — not  of  mistakes  in  locating  churches  and  enterprises, 
we  can  hardly  call  them  mistakes;  but — of  changes  in  sur- 
roundings and  conditions  that  have  rendered  it  necessary 
to  do  our  work  over  again.  Many  of  the  churches  organ- 
ized in  the  first  two  decades  of  our  history  did  not  survive 
the  third.     Camps  of  drill,  they  were,  and  halting  stations, 


34 


HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 


and  like  individual  Christian  lives,  though  dead  they  yet 
speak.  Nothing  has  been  lost  that  was  done  for  Christ. 
"Man  proposes  but  God  disposes." 

In  our  next  chapter  we  shall  seek  to  unfold  the  history 
of  movements  in  connection  with  missionary  and  educa- 
tional work,  to  be  followed  by  the  spread  of  associational 
and  church  organization  in  the  newer  parts  of  the  state. 
There  will  necessarily  be  less  of  detail  and  more  of  general 
survey. 


CHAPTER  lY. 


OuK  Cultured  and  Broad-Minded  Pioneers — Educa- 
tional Plans — Institutions  of  Learning — Con- 
ventions, Etc — Items  from  Records  of  1853. 


E  have  already  referred  to  the  foresight  and 
breadth  of  view  of  the  Iowa  Baptist  pio- 
neers. While,  as  a  rule,  it  is  necessarily  true 
that  pioneer  work  is  largely  done  by  hardy 
but  illiterate  men,  it  is  a  notable  fact  that 
among  the  first  Baptist  ministers  of  Iowa  were  a  goodly 
number  of  educated  and  thoroughly  well-informed  men 
who  knew  the  value  of  missionary  and  educational  insti- 
tutions, and  who  were  profoundly  impressed  with  the 
possibilities  and  necessities  of  the  opening  fields  west  of 
the  Mississippi.  As  early  as  1844,  at  the  third  annual 
meeting  of  the  convention  held  at  Mount  Pleasant,  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  report  on  "the  expediency  of  es- 
tablishing an  institution  of  learning"  in  the  territory. 
There  were  then  502  members  in  a  population  of  75,450,  or 
one  Baptist  in  150  of  population.  The  report  of  the  com- 
mittee was  in  these  words  : 

'■'' Itesolmd,   That  the  establishment  of  an  institution  of 
learning  at  some  eligible  point  in  the  territory  by  the  Bap- 


36  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

tist  denomination  is  a  subject  of  vast  importance,  and  that 
it  is  the  duty  of  this  convention  to  take  immediate  and  vig- 
orous measures  towards  the  consummation  of  this  object." 

A  committee  was  appointed  "to  confer  with  citizens  in 
the  territory  and  receive  proposals  towards  procuring  a  site 
for  and  defraying  the  expenses  of  erecting  suitable  build- 
ings for  said  institution."  The  Davenport  Association  in 
the  following  September  endorsed  this  action  and  pledged 
co-operation.  In  May  1845  the  General  Association, 
though  no  place  had  been  fixed  upon,  resolved,  "still  urg- 
ing the  importance  of  the  subject  upon  the  attention  of  the 
brethren,"  and  appointed  a  committee  "to  take  the  prelim- 
inary steps  for  commencing  a  literary  institution  adequate 
to  the  wants  of  Iowa  Territory."  Rev.  Luther  Stone,  then 
of  Burlington,  was  chairman  of  this  committee,  and  asso- 
ciated with  him  were  Revs.  J.  N.  Seele}^,  C.  E.  Brown, 
Wm.  Elliott,  M.  J.  Post,  and  several  la3^men. 

At  the  meeting  in  1846,  held  at  Iowa  City,  the  chairman 
of  the  committee,  Luther  Stone,  having  removed  from  the 
territory,  the  other  members  of  the  committee  held  a  meet- 
ing and  reported  that  "we  deem  it  highly  important  to 
enter  into  immediate  arrangements  for  establishing  said 
literary  institution,  and  that  we  present  the  various  propo- 
sals received  to  the  Convention  in  committee  of  the  whole, 
to  discuss  and  decide  upon  the  respective  claims."  After  a 
lengthy  discussion  it  was  voted  by  a  majority  of  three  to 
locate  at  Agency  City,  Wapello  county.  This  vote,  how- 
ever, was  immediately  after  reconsidered  and  so  the  matter 
rested  for  a  brief  space. 

Incipient  steps  had  already  been  taken  looking  to  the 
formation  of  an  Iowa  Baptist  Educational  Society.  This 
society  held  its  annual  meeting  in  connection  with  the  Con- 
vention in  1847,  and  records  this  item  in  the  minutes : 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  37 

"In  consideration  of  the  donations  and  subscriptions  of 
the  citizens  of  Agency  City, 

^^ Resolved,  That  an  institution  of  learning  be  located  at 
that  place."' 

Though  nothing  more  seems  to  have  been  done  for  some 
four  years  after  this,  it  is  plainly  seen  how  much  the 
hearts  of  those  then  toiling  on  this  field  were  enlisted  in 
laying  broad  foundations  for  its  effective  cultivation  for 
Christ.  It  is  a  reasonable  inference  that  the  removal  of 
Mr.  Temple  from  Agency  City,  as  noticed  in  the  last 
"Sketch,"  and  the  changes  attending  the  "California  fever," 
had  much  to  do  with  the  delay. 

In  1851  the  Convention  held  two  sessions;  one  in  Musca- 
tine the  other  in  Burlington.  At  the  Burlington  meeting, 
in  September,  the  subject  of  an  educational  institution  for 
Iowa  was  again  revived.  "It  appears  that  a  committee 
had  been  previously  appointed  to  correspond  with  the 
Baptist  ecclesiastical  bodies  of  Minnesota,  Wisconsin  and 
Northern  Illinois,  with  regard  to  the  establishment  of  a 
Baptist  theological  institution  for  the  Northwest."  This 
committee,  in  connection  with  a  report  of  considerable 
length,  submitted  a  resolution  :  "That  a  committee  of  five 
be  appointed  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  make  investigations, 
solicit  proposals,  etc.,  with  reference  to  the  immediate  es- 
tablishment of  a  denominational  university  in  the  State."' 
Thus  early  did  the  educational  idea  in  Iowa  grow  into  that 
of  a  universit}^  This  committee  were  also  authorized  to 
call  an  educational  convention  at  such  time  and  place  as 
they  might  deem  expedient,  "when  the  whole  subject  might 
be  considered  in  detail."  The  committee  consisted  of  "five 
representative  and  prominent  brethren."  The  president  of 
the  Convention  was  afterwards  added  to  the  committee  and 
the  six,  "according  to  instructions  of  the  State  Convention," 


38  HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES 

called  an  educational  convention  at  Iowa  City  to  meet  April 
13. 1852.  This  convention  met  and  was  in  session  two  days. 
The  final  result  is  recorded  in  these  words  :  "On  motion, 
after  an  extended,  free  and  full  interchange  of  opinion,  it 
was  unanimously  resolved  that  tlie  contemplated  university 
be  located  at  Burlington."  Articles  of  incorporation  were 
adopted,  trustees  elected,  etc. 

The  names  are  recorded  of  eighteen  bretliren  present  at 
this  convention,  and  two  visitors  from  St.  Louis.  The  Iowa 
delegates  represented  such  places  as  Davenport,  Musca- 
tine, Iowa  Cit}^,  Des  Moines,  Marion,  Knoxville,  Brighton, 
Le  Claire,  Burlington,  Keokuk,  Bella,  Columbus  City  and 
Wapello. 

It  appears  that  there  were  some  brethren  not  present  at 
the  Iowa  City  convention  of  April,  1852,  who  were  not  sat- 
isfied with  the  result  of  that  convention,  and  who,  raising 
the  claim  that  "the  denominational  institution  for  the  State 
ought  to  be  located  in  some  central  portion  of  the  State, " 
began  an  agitation  for  the  calling  of  another  convention. 
It  was  said  that  "conversations  on  the  subject  resulred  in 
an  agreement  on  the  part  of  brethren  of  the  north  and  of 
the  south  to  call  a  convention  to  be  held  at  Oskaloosa  in 
November,  1852.  "  "  The  weather  being  unpropitious  "  at 
the  time  appointed  "  the  attendance  was  small  and  there 
was  an  adjournment  to  the  following  June,  1853,  at  Bella." 
By  this  convention,  was  located  the  Central  University  at 
Bella.  We  have  the  names  of  eleven  delegates  represent- 
ing the  following  places :  Brighton,  Danville,  Bella,  Auro- 
ra church.  Liberty  ville,  Oskaloosa,  Bonaparte,  Farmington, 
and  Union  church. 

In  the  mean  time  Burlington  has  begun  to  build,  and 
soon  a  building  is  erected  at  Bella,  and  the  two  schools  be- 
gin their  history.     Into  the  controversies  that  ensued,  and 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  39 

whatever  of  painful  experiences  liave  attended  their 
growth,  it  is  not  ihe  purpose  of  these  sketches  to  enter,  nor 
would  the  subsequent  educational  movements  in  the  state 
be  in  place  among  these  earlier  records.  The  sketch  of 
these  earliest  days  of  educational  work  would,  however, 
not  be  complete  without  a  brief  notice  of  the  State  Conven- 
tion proceedings  for  1852 and  1853.  In  1852  the  Convention 
was  held  at  Marion.  It  appears  that  a  resolution  was 
passed  and  recorded  in  the  minutes  in  the  following  words  : 

'^Resolved,  That  this  Convention  cannot  sanction  the 
proceedings  of  the  educational  meeting  held  in  Iowa  Cit}^, 
in  locating  an  institution  of  learning. " 

At  the  Convention  at  Keokuk  in  1852  "a  memorial  of  the 
trustees  of  Burlington  University,  in  behalf  of  that  institu- 
tion" was  read  and  referred  to  a  committee.  That  commit- 
tee submitted  a  report,  and,  pending  its  discussion.  Rev. 
H.  R  Wilbur,  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  presented  a  substitute  in 
the  following  words  : 

'"Resolved.  That  the  resolution  in  the  minutes  of  last 
year  (and  quoted  above)  be  rescinded. '' 

The  substitute  of  Bro.  Wilbur  was  adopted.  The  yeas 
and  nays  being  called  were  recorded.  There  were  thirty- 
three  yeas  and  eleven  nays. 

At  this  same  meeting  was  presented  an  obituary  report 
containing  "suitable  notice  of  the  death  of  brother  B.  F. 
Brabrook, "  whose  name  liad  stood  first  among  the  dele- 
gates of  the  Iowa  City  convention  of  April,  1852.  He 
died  at  Davenport,  June  9th,  1853. 

That  these  schools,  thus  started,  and  others  later,  have 
all  done  and  are  still  doing  much  good,  no  careful  and 
unprejudiced  observer,  and  certainly  none  who  has  been 
conversant  with  the  work  in  Iowa  for  the  last  twenty-five 


40  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

years,  will  for  a  moment  question.  The  facts  we  have  been 
sketching  illustrate  what  has  long  been,  to  the  mind  of  the 
writer,  a  settled  principle,  that  in  the  development  of  God's 
plans,  especially  in  a  rapidly  growing  country  where  large 
foresight  is  required,  no  resolutions  of  Associations,  nor 
votes  of  Conventions,  nor  even  the  wisest  forethought  of 
finite  minds,  can  determine  for  a  great  length  of  time  what 
will  be  best,  nor  what  the  subsequent  unfoldings  of  Provi^ 
dence  may  require  for  the  efficient  carrying  out  of  his  pur- 
poses for  the  race.  We  must  ever  continue  to  walk  by 
faith,  not  by  sight,  and  we  shall  never  pass  the  time  when 
it  will  be  necessary  that  "if  any  man  lack  wisdom"  he 
"ask  of  God  who  giveth  to  all  men  liberally  and  upbraid- 
eth  not. "  Whatever  may  have  been  the  mistakes  and  the 
unhappy  rivalries'of  the  past,  let  us  be  thankful  that  there 
were  among  the  foundation-builders  in  this  goodly  field  a 
spirit  of  enterprise  and  a  thoughtfulness  for  the  future, 
leading  to  so  much  earnestness  in  efl'orts  to  lay  the  foun- 
dations broad  and  strong. 

We  will  close  the  present  sketch  with  one  or  two  items 
of  interest  from  the  records  of  the  lasc  mentioned  year, 
1853.  I  find  here  a  record  of  "life-members  resident  in  Iowa 
of  the  different  Baptist  societies  generally  supported  b}^ 
the  denomination  in  the  Northern  and  Western  States.  " 
There  are  thirteen  of  the  Missionary  Union,  and  twenty-one 
of  the  Home  Missionary  Society.  These  represent  the  names 
of  nearly  all  of  our  leading  ministers  and  others,  and 
money  paid  out  of  meagre  earnings,  that  the  work  might 
not  be  hindered  for  want  of  means.  There  was  also  about 
that  time  a  "German  Mission  Society  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley, "  in  the  interest  of  which  Rev.  D.  Read,  as  chair- 
man of  a  committee,  presented  an  able  report.  Rev.  J.  G. 
Oncken,  of  Germany,  was  present  and  greatly  interested 
the  Convention  by  his  remarks. 


CHARLES  E.   BROWN. 


CHAPTER  Y. 


Acknowledgement  —  Rapid     Growth  —  Boundaries — 
Associations  Multiply — Great  Revivals — Bap- 
tisms— Home    Mission    Society  — 1859. 

OR  many  of  the  facts  contained  in  the  last 
cliapter,  I  am  very  largely  indebted  to  a 
paper  written  by  Rev.  J.  F.  Childs,  and  read 
before  the  State  Convention  in  1874,  and 
which  has  never  been  published.  From  his 
connection  with  the  Secretaryship  of  the  Convention  for  so 
many  years,  and  his  energy  and  zeal  in  gathering  documents  * 
and  facts,  there  probably  is,  or  has  been,  no  man  in  Iowa 
whose  facilities  for  historical  accuracy  in  these  matters  are 
equal  to  those  of  Bro.  Childs. 

In  the  present  chapter  we  shall  note  the  rapid  growth 
of  the  general  work  in  the  decade  from  1852  to  1862.  In 
1852  there  were  yet  but  three  Associations,  50  Churches, 
and  1,996  members;  one  Baptist  to  115  of  the  population. 
There  were  then  30  ministers.  A  year  later,  1853,  there 
are  four  Associations,  65  Churches,  36  ministers,  299  bap- 
tisms and  2,385  members.  The  border  line  of  Baptists  at 
this  time  might  be  drawn  from  Decatur  county  on  the 
south,  through  "Fort  Des  Moines,"' bending  to  the  eastward 


42  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

till  it  touches  Marion,  in  Linn  county,  thence  northward 
to  West  Point,  in  Fayette  county,  thence  to  Eossville,  in 
Allamakee.  It  does  not  appear  that  there  was  an  organi- 
zation of  Baptists  west  or  north  of  this  supposed  line. 
Marshalltown,  A\"aterloo,  Cedar  Falls  and  points  north  on 
the  Cedar  River,  had  then  not  been  heard  of  as  regards 
Baptists.  The  same  is  true  of  the  territor}^  stretching 
away  westward  towards  the  setting  sun. 

J  can  hardly  forbear  to  pause  and  let  imagination 
make  her  utmost  effort  to  take  in  the  situation.  The 
Standard,  our  great  denominational  paper  for  the  north- 
west, under  its  present  management,  was  about  beginning 
its  career  of  untold  usefulness  for  this  vast  domain  That 
"Kansas-Nebraska  Bill,"  which,  by  its  repeal  of  the  "Mis- 
souri Compromise" — thus  seeking  to  open  up  to  slavery 
the  territories  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains — inaugurated 
the  new  "irrepressible  conflict"  which  put  an  end  to 
slavery  in  the  United  States,  had  not  yet  passed  through 
Congress.  It  was  indeed  the  beginning  of  a  new  era  in 
many  respects,  and  we  shall  find  it  the  beginning  of  a  new 
era  with  the  Baptists  of  Iowa.  We  have  seen  that,  for  the 
ten  years  previous,  growth  had  been  slow;  from  463  to 
2,385,  or  an  average  of  192  2-10  per  year.  We  may  antici- 
pate the  next  ten  years'  growth,  from  1853  to  1863,  by 
pointing  out,  here,  that  it  is  to  be  10,208  or  an  average  of 
1,020  8-10  per  3^ ear.  We  will  take  a  bird's-eye  view  of  this 
growth  of  Associations  and  Churches,  mentioning  the 
names  only  of  such  Churches  as  are,  for  geographical  or 
other  reasons,  central  or  typical. 

Turning  over  two  years  to  1855  we  find  three  new  Asso- 
ciations had  been  added,  the  Eden  in  1853,  and  the  Du- 
buque in  1855,  while  the  Fox  River  Association,  though 
organized   several  years  earlier,  does  not   appear  in  our 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  43 

records  till  about  this  time,  and  is  not  counted  in  the  list 
previous  to  this  date.  The  Central  and  Oskaloosa  Asso- 
ciations had  both  been  organized  in  1852,  making  five  at 
that  date  if  Fox  River  had  been  counted.  As  near  as  I 
can  get  at  the  facts  now,  the  Fox  River  Association  was 
organized  in  1840  as  an  Old-School  Baptist  Association, 
and  came  into  our  ranks  about  1855.  At  this  date  there 
are  unassociated  Churches  at  Waterloo,  at  Oskaloosa,  at 
Ottumwa,  at  Bedford,  and  at  several  other  places.  A  year 
later  at  Council  Bluffs  and  Red  Oak  Grove.  These  are 
picket  posts.  Others  follow  soon  at  Denison,  with  Rev. 
J.  W.  Denison  on  guard,  and  at  Webster  City,  with  Rev, 
O.  ii.  Holmes,  who  had  for  several  years  previously  held 
the  fort  at  Maquoketa.  Several  of  these  unassociated 
Churches  remained  in  that  condition  for  a  number  of 
years — we  speak  now  of  these  as  central  points — because 
they  were  too  remote  from  other  Churches  to  find  associa- 
tion. We  can  understand  by  this  something  of  what  it 
cost  to  occupy  these  frontier  posts.  To  name  the  noble 
brethren  who  did  it,  and  many  of  whose  names  have  run 
through  all  the  subsequent  history  of  our  State,  while 
some  have  gone  hence  to  stand  on  guard  here  no  more, 
would  be  to  lengthen  these  Sketches  beyond  the  publisher's, 
if  not  the  reader's,  patience.  Indeed,  we  can  begin  nowhere 
and  end  nowhere  in  the  mention  of  names  without  the 
fear  of  omitting  many  just  as  worthy  of  mention  as  those 
named. 

Turning  now  to  the  records  as  they  stand  in  1860, 
and  looking  back  over  the  decade,  Avhat  do  we  see  of  the 
growth  of  this  active  period  ?  Here  is  the  Bedford  Asso- 
ciation organized  in  1856.  Ii  had  in  1860  twenty-five 
Churches  and  1,]  16  members.  All  of  these  churches  except 
one  had  been  organized  within  the  ten  years.  The  Cedar 
Valley  Association,  organized  in  1856,  has  in  1860  nineteen 


44  HISTOKICAL   SKETCHES 

Churches  and  598  members,  and  every  church  organized 
since  1850.  The  Iowa  Valley  Association,  organized  in 
1858,  has  seven  Churches  and  220  members,  not  a  Church 
more  than  five  years  old,  in  1860.  The  Linn  Association, 
organized  in  1857,  has  eighteen  Churches  and  617  members, 
and  only  two  Churches  that  were  organized  prior  to  1850. 
Fairview  in  1848  and  Marion  in  1843.  The  Western  Asso- 
ciation, organized  in  1859,  has  in  1860  ten  Churches  and  206 
members,  all  the  Churches  organized  within  three  years. 
The  Dubuque  Association,  organized  in  1855,  has  in  1860 
eighteen  Churches  and  724  members.  This  Association 
was  drawn  largely  from  the  Davenport  and  contains  some 
of  the  older  Churches  of  the  State ;  nevertheless,  of  the 
eighteen  Churches  in  1860,  twelve  have  been  organized 
within  the  decade.  Thus  we  have,  leaving  out  the  growth 
during  the  same  period  in  the  old  Associations,  added 
within  this  decade  five  new  Associations  (from  1858  to 
1860)  containing  at  the  latter  date  eighty-seven  Churches 
and  8,270  members.  But  the  growth  had  been  chiefiy  in 
the  last  lialf  of  the  decade.  Of  the  eighty-seven  Churches 
only  fifteen  having  been  organized  prior  to  1855. 

The  Upper  Des  Moines,  the  English  River,  and  the 
Turkey  River  Associations  followed  quickly  in  1860,  and 
the  work  has  spread  itself  over  the  settled  parts  of  the 
State ;  keeping  pace,  and  more  than  keeping  pace,  with  the 
rapid  settlement  of  the  State  itself.  In  eight  years  the 
ratio  of  Baptists  to  the  population  has  risen  from  one  in 
115  in  1852  to  one  in  less  than  fifty-nine  in  1860.  The 
population  of  the  State  in  the  eight  years  has  increased 
from  230,888  to  676,485,  or  nearly  as  multiplied  by  three. 

The  period  under  review  was  not  only  one  of  growth  by 
immigration,  the  rapid  filling  up  of  the  State  bringing  in 
many  energetic  Baptists  with  the  tide.     It  was  evidently 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  45 

a  period  of  great  revival  and  spiritual  activit}^  among  the 
Churches.  The  former  period  of  seed  sowing  and  slow 
growth  was  succeeded  by  one  of  ripening  grain  and  Joyful 
reaping.  It  is  refreshing  to  study  the  records  of  those 
3^ears,  and  witness  the  evidence  of  God's  gracious  presence. 
It  causes  the  prayer  to  rise  up  in  my  own  heart  as  I  write, 
"O  Lord  revive  thy  work."  "Wilt  thou  not  revive  us  again?" 
and  "Restore  unto  us  the  j 03^  of  thy  salvation?''  that  we 
may  "  teach  transgressors  thv"  ways  and  that  sinners  may 
be  converted  to  thee  !  "  May  I  not  pause  here  to  ask  that 
the  Iowa  readers  of  these  imperfect  sketches,  when  they 
read  these  lines,  will  Join  the  ^vriter  in  this  fervent  prayer? 

The  number  of  ba])tisms  reported  in  1853  was  299. 
This  was  the  largest  number  that  had  ever  been  reported 
in  any  one  year.  The  whole  number  reported  for  the  ten 
years  ending  with  1853  was  1,513 ;  an  average  of  151  per 
3^ear.  The  whole  number  of  baptisms  for  the  ten  years 
ending  with  1863  was  8,998,  an  average  of  899  per  year. 
The  great  revival  continued  through  the  j^ears  1858,  1859 
and  1860  ;  the  baptisms  were  respectively  1,890,  1,173  and 
1,324. 

In  our  next  chapter  we  shall  give  attention  to  the  mis- 
sionary activity  of  Iowa  Baptists,  and  the  origin  and 
progress  of  the  strictly  Missionary  History  of  the  State 
Convention,  with  other  features  of  Missionary  growth- 
It  will  be  proper  to  close  this  chapter  with  a  notice  of  the 
Home  Mission  Societj^'s  work  in  Iowa  during  the  period 
we  have  had  under  review.  During  the  decade,  1852  to 
1861,  inclusive,  the  Society  issued  to  missionaries  in  Iowa 
194  commissions,  an  average  of  over  nineteen  per  3^ear. 
Their  reports  summarize  as  follows:  Weeks  of  labor,  7,426 ; 
number  of  baptisms,  1,860 ;  amount  of  appropriations, 
138,917  ;  amount  of  receipts,  $4,990. 


46  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

We  will  take  the  year  1859  as  the  period  of  high-tide. 
We  find  the  Society's  work  for  the  year  represented  by 
the  following  weeks  of  labor:  James  Schofield,  Hardin,  26; 
A.  Chapin,  Vinton,  13 ;  J.  Woodward,  Cedar  Rapids,  52 ; 
L.  M.  Newell,  Waukon,  18 ;  Thomas  M.  Ind,  Burlington, 
52  ;  George  Scott,  Strawberry  Point,  26 ;  Charles  E.  Brown, 
Vernon  Springs,  26;  P.  P.  Shirley,  Le  Claire,  13;  J.  M. 
Coggshall,  Wapello,  46;  G.  G.  Edwards,  Toledo,  39;  J.  F. 
Childs,  Oskaloosa^  52;  O.  A.  Holmes,  Webster  City,  52 ; 
A.  G.  Eberhart,  Waterloo,  52;  S.  H.Worcester,  Ottnmwa,  52; 
J.  Currier,  Central  Association,  29 ;  Alvah  Bush,  Straw- 
berry Point,  26;  A.  H.  Starkweather,  Lyons,  39;  John 
Fulton,  Independence,  26  ;  A.  W.  Russell,  Winterset,  26  ; 
F.  D.  Rickerson,  Grinnell,  13  ;  L.  L.  Frisk,  Swede  Bend, 
26;  Morgan  Edwards,  Burlington,  26;  Wm.  A.  Eggleston, 
Denmark,  26  ;  I.  Butterfield,  Davenport,  26  ;  U.  R.  Walton, 
Cedar  Falls,  13;  T.  S.  Griffith,  Keokuk,  26:  L.  Yarnell, 
Adel,  26.  Of  the  above,  eight  are  known  to  have  dis- 
charged their  last  commission  and  gone  over  the  river. 
Some  are  waiting  at  its  borders  and  several  are  still  in  the 
harness  in  this  and  other  States. 

The  present  writer  is  privileged  to  acknowledge  his 
own  baptism  by  one  of  the  missionaries,  as  one  of  the 
fruits  of  that  same  year,  1859. 


CHAPTER  YI. 


An  Instructive   Incident — American   Sunday   School 
Union — A  Mysterious  Subscription — The 
Appropriate  Work  of  the  State  Con- 
vention— An  Able  Address. 


N  our  last  chapter  was  sketched  the  almost 
phenomenal  growth  of  our  Iowa  Churches 
and  Associations  during  the  years  from  1852 
to  1862.  The  present  we  will  devote  to  an 
account  of  the  formulation  and  early  growth 
of  our  own  State  Missionary  organization,  State  Conven- 
tion, etc.  Before  entering  upon  this,  however,  I  wish  to 
introduce  an  incident,  which,  though  not  strictly  "Baptist 
history,''  is  in  close  connection,  is  unique  in  itself,  and 
highly  suggestive,  and  is  exceedingly  good  reading.  It  is 
in  connection  with  the  labors  of  Rev.  Dexter  P.  Smith,  D. 
D.,  now  of  Santa  Anna,  California.  From  1845  to  1851 
Bro.  Smith  was  missionary  of  the  Home  Mission  Society  at 
Iowa  City.  From  1851  to  1859  he  was  "employed  by  the 
American  Sunday  School  Union  as  General  Sunday  School 
Missionary  for  the  State  of  Iowa."  I  give  the  following- 
sketch  in  his  own  words,  as  furnished  to  Hon.  N.  Littler, 
of  Washington,  Iowa,  and  by  him  furnished  to  me  for 
these  sketches.     Bro.  Smith  says  : 


48  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

'•As  tlie  salary  of  General  Missionary  was  provided  for 
by  friends  East,  all  collections  were  paid  into  the  treasury 
of  the  American  Sunday  School  Union,  and  expended  in 
supplying  libraries  for  Iowa.  Each  new  school,  upon  re- 
(Xuest,  received  a  donation  of  one-half  the  cost  of  a  good 
library.  February  17,  1856,  I  was  in  Davenport.  In  the 
morning  I  preached  in  the  Congregationalist  Church  and 
received  a  collection  of  ^60.25.  In  the  evening  I  addressed 
a  union  meeting  at  the  Baptist  Church.  Cash  collection 
'^103.  Slips  of  paper  were  circulated  for  subscriptions. 
Upon  one  of  these  small  slips  was  the  following  subscrip- 
tion:  'Mailin  Reisarf  one  thousand  dollars  ($1,000)  pay- 
able at  Cook  &  Sargent's  bank,  Davenport,  Oct.  2,  1856.' 
As  no  one  of  the  friends  knew  any  person  in  Davenport  by 
the  name  of  Mailin  Reisarf,  the  subscription  was  valued  at 
a  discount  of  about  one  hundred  per  cent.  The  next  morn- 
ing, with  a  friend,  I  inquired  at  Cook  &  Sargent's  bank,  but 
the  officials  knew  no  such  person,  which  strengthened  the 
belief  that  it  was  a  mere  hoax,  and  that  we  should  hear  no 
more  of  it.  But  my  own  mind  was  strongly  impressed 
that  God  had  touched  the  heart  of  some  one,  and  disposed 
him  to  do  a  noble  thing  for  the  good  cause.  Just  before 
the  subscription  matured,  upon  the  streets  of  Davenport, 
a  stranger  met  the  Rev.  E.  M.  Miles,  pastor  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  inquired,  'Do  you  recollect  that  a  subscription 
of  $1,000  for  the  Sunday  School  work  was  given  in  response 
to  Mr.  Smith's  recent  lecture  and  appeals 

'"I  recollect  it  very  well,'  said  Mr.  Miles,  and  the 
stranger  continued  : 

'"Can  you  convey  the  funds  to  Mr.  Smith  without 
trouble  i ' 

"Mr.  Miles  assured  liini  that  it  could  be  done  without 
the  least  trouble. 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  49 

"'Then,'  said  the  unknown  stranger,  'I  will  pay  the 
amount  to  you  instead  of  depositing  it  at  the  bank,'  and 
handed  him  a  purse  of  gold  containing  a  thousand  dollars 
in  fifty  pieces  of  twenty  dollars  each.  In  the  excitement 
of  the  moment  the  stranger  passed  from  sight,  and  from 
that  day  search  was  made  in  vain  for  the  generous  donor. 

'•But,  "  says  Mr,  Smith,  "the  name  and  the  act  have  re- 
ceived an  imperishable  record  in  the  great  memorial  book 
on  high.  Stranger  than  romance,  it  was  a  God-send  to 
Iowa.  By  it  influences  were  started  which  will  reach  down 
the  ages  to  the  end  of  time,  to  be  gathered  up,  reviewed, 
and  fully  appreciated  only  under  the  blaze  of  eternity's 
broad  sunlight. " 

In  accordance  with  instructions,  the  funds  were  paid 
over  to  Mr.  A.  W.  Corey,  of  St.  Louis,  who  had  charge  of  a 
branch  book  depository  of  the  American  Sunda}'  School 
Union,  from  which  Sunday  School  libraries  for  Iowa  were 
furnished.  The  Union  was  at  that  time  doing  a  great  work 
for  Iowa,  planting  Sunday-schools  "  where  no  Church  or 
mission  out-post  could  be  sustained.  "  Each  Sunday  school 
was  "the  nucleus  around  which  gathered  a  congregation 
and  a  permanent  interest,"  and  "many  of  these  schools  sub- 
sequently developed  into  churches.'' 

Our  broad-minded  Baptist  workers  were  quick  to  recog-. 
nize  and  to  identify  themselves  with  such  beneficent  move- 
ments where  they  were  needed,  and  also  quick  to  avail 
themselves  of  the  development,  and  to  advance  every  de- 
nominational organization  so  soon  as  the  field  was  provi- 
dentially open  to  such  work. 

When  the  Iowa  Baptist  State  Convention  was  first 
organized,  and  up  to  1855,  its  object  was  to  awaken  interest 
in,  and  devise  means  for  the  promotion  of  the  missionary 
work  of  other  existing  missionary  organizations.     In  1865,. 


50  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

J.  M.  Withervvax,  of  Davenport,  treasurer  of  the  Conven- 
tion, reported,  "Received  for  the  American  Baptist  Home 
Mission  Societ}^  $161.40 ;  for  the  American  Baptist  Mission- 
ary Union,  8288.08,  and  for  the  American  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society  S24.10. "'  This  was  the  aggregate  of  collec- 
tions for  missionary  purposes  in  one  year,  after  the  Con- 
vention had  been  at  work  thirteen  years. 

Although  great  financial  embarrassment  is  spoken  of 
this  year,  limiting  the  work  of  all  the  societies,  the  amount 
two  years  earlier,  for  1853,  was  still  less.  The  day  of  small 
things,  truly,  in  missionary  collections  for  a  state  organiza- 
tion !  But  it  did  not  daunt  the  spirit  of  our  earnest  pio- 
neers. It  seems  that  in  1854  the  Convention  began  to 
consider  the  question  of  taking  up  and  maintaining  mis- 
sionary work  in  its  own  name  and  by  funds  of  its  own 
raising.  A  committee  had  been  appointed  to  secure  a 
German  missionary  to  labor  among  the  Germans  of  the 
state,  and  to  raise  money  to  provide  in  whole  or  in  part  for 
his  support.  This  committee  seems  to  have  made  a  report 
which  was  referred  to  the  Board  at  the  meeting  in  1855,  but 
no  record  is  left  of  its  work. 

At  the  same  meeting  in  1854,  a  committee  was  appointed 
"to  prepare  and  offer"  at  the  subsequent  meeting  "a  revi- 
sion of  the  constitution  "  which  in  its  existing  form  did  not 
"contemplate  the  department  of  domestic  missionary  ef- 
fort. "  Rev.  T.  S.  Griffith  was  chairman  of  this  committee, 
but  in  his  absence  the  report  of  the  committee  was  read  by 
Rev.  E.  Gunn,  and  after  some  amendments  was  adopted, 
looking  in  its  provisions  to  "  the  (ippropriaie  worTi  of  the 
Convention"  the  prosecution  of  domestic  missions.  This 
was  in  1855.  The  secretary  of  the  previous  year.  Rev.  H. 
R.  Wilbur,  mentions  in  his  annual  report  that  "this  sub- 
ject has  already  received  the  attention  of  several  Associa- 


•       OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  51 

tioiis  ill  the  state, ''  and  that  ''  at  their  recent  annual 
meetings  resolutions  were  passed  of  very  decided  character, 
commending  this  matter  to  the  favorable  regard  of  the 
Convention."  A  missionary  board  was  appointed  at  this 
meeting,  which  was  held  at  Mount  Pleasant,  and  a  collec- 
tion was  taken  to  aid  in  its  work,  which  amounted  to  §18.50 
in  money  and  1 175  in  pledges. 

Directed  by  a  resolution  of  the  Board,  the  Correspond- 
ing Secretary,  Rev.  E.  Gunn,  prepared  and  printed  with 
the  Minutes  of  that  year,  a  circular,  addressed  "To  the 
Pastors  and  Members  of  the  Baptist  Churches  in  Iowa,  and 
to  the  Friends  of  the  Baptist  Cause,  and  the  Cause  of 
Christ  generally,"  commending  unto  them  this  new  work 
of  domestic  missions.  The  address  is  a  very  able  one  and 
in  Bro.  Clunn's  own  strong  and  earnest  style.  It  took  a 
comprehensive  view  of  the  rapid  growth  and  present  and 
prospective  needs  of  the  great  state,  the  evangelization  of 
which  from  within  itself  was  just  beginning  to  be  con- 
sidered as  a  pressing  duty. 

A  few  sentences  we  transcribe:  "The  State  of  Iowa  is 
at  present  filling  up  by  an  immigration  altogether  unex- 
ampled in  the  history  of  our  country.  It  is  computed  by 
those  best  qualified  to  judge,  that  not  less  than  two 
hundred  thousand  people  have  found  homes  within  the 
ample  borders  of  our  State  within  the  last  two  years." 
"The  great  thoroughfares  of  travel  along  the  line  of  the 
lakes,  uniting  the  Atlantic  cities  with  the  Mississippi 
River,  have  been  choked  with  emigrants  from  all  the 
Eastern  and  Middle  States."  "Every  point  of  transit 
across  the  Mississippi  has  been  crowded  with  the  canvass- 
covered  wagons  of  the  hardy  pioneers  from  other  Western 
States."  "Whole  townships  and  counties  have  been  taken 
up  and  settled  as  by  magic.     Tracts  of  country,  scores  and 


52  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

even  hundreds  of  miles  in  extent,  where  but  two  years  ago 
the  wild  Indians  disputed  the  possession  only  with  the 
prairie  wolf  and  the  elk,  are  now  dotted  all  over  with  the 
rude  cabins  of  the  settlers." 

Such  is  Iowa  as  a  missionary  field  in  1855.  The  address 
takes  a  comprehensive  view  of  the  necessity  of  evangelizing 
this  moving,  seething  mass  of  humanity.  A  single  sen- 
tence, or  two,  must  sufiice  for  reproduction  here:  "Neglect 
this  field  for  ten  years,  and  it  is  possessed  by  the  man  -of 
sin,  by  the  disciples  of  Abner  Kneeland,  of  Andrew  Jack- 
son Davis,  or  of  the  Mormon  prophet.  Let  Satan  make 
such  a  disposition  of  this  great  central  valley,  and  he  will 
have  but  an  easy  task  with  the  rest  of  our  country  and  the 
world." 

As  we  read  these  words,  by  one  who  has  been  so  widely 
known  tliroughout  the  West  for  his  almost  consuming  zeal 
in  fighting  the  fight  of  faith  for  nearl}^  thirty  years  since 
they  were  written,  and  when  we  think  of  the  many  others 
equally  as  well  known,  we  cannot  but  thank  God  for  the 
forces  thus  early  marshalled  against  the  combined  powers 
of  evils  that  have  contested  every  inch  of  ground,  and  for 
the  measure  of  success  which  has  been  achieved. 

We  have  found  it  well  nigh  impossible  not  to  tarry 
thus  long  in  contemplation  of  the  conditions  under  which 
the  '"^a^oproiyrlate  loork'''  of  our  State  Convention  was 
begun.  The  development  of  it,  which  we  had  hoped  to 
reach  in  the  present  chapter,  must  therefore,  wait  until  the 
next. 

As  these  Sketches  have  largely  to  do  with  beginnings, 
the  subsequent  growth  will  require  less  of  detail. 


CHAPTER  VII, 


Missionary  Work — Two  Methods — Distrust — Faith — 
State   Convention — First    Missionary   Appoint- 
ments— First    Agents— An    Ideal — Oppos- 
ing    Forces  —  A     War     Cloud — A 
Period   of  Unusual   Interest. 


]|HERE  are  two  opposite  principles  that  are 
sometimes  insisted  upon  for  tlie  government 
of  misisonary  boards  in  laying  out  and  car- 
rying forward  the  work  for  which  they  have 
been  appointed.  (1)  That  no  contracts 
should  be  entered  into  for  the  payment  of 
money  until  the  money  is  already  in  hand  to  meet  such 
obligations,  where  benevolent  contributions  are  depended 
upon  for  the  raising  of  funds.  This  is  the  position  taken 
by  strict  constructionists,  as  to  the  province  and  duties  of 
boards.  (2)  The  other  principle  is  that,  being  appointed 
to  execute  the  beneficent  purposes  of  the  Societies  appoint- 
ing them,  these  boards  should  exercise  an  intelligent  faith 
as  to  the  work  proposed,  and  should  lay  out  a  reasonable 
amount  of  work  for  the  year,  and,  placing  confidence  in  the 
supporters  of  the  Society,  should  appeal  to  them  for  the 
money  to  meet  the  obligations  already  assumed  in  their 
name. 


54  HISTOEICAL    SKETCHES 

That  the  latter  is  the  only  practicable  plan,  we  think 
the  history  of  all  our  missionary  operations  will  attest.  A 
vivid  illustration  is  foimd  in  the  beginning  of  Independent 
Missionary  work  by  the  Iowa  Baptist  State  Convention,  of 
which  we  began  to  write  in  our  last  chapter  of  these 
"Sketches."  We  there  noted  the  growth  of  the  idea,  and 
its  formal  expression  in  the  appointment  of  a  Missionary 
Board,  and  the  adoption  of  a  Constitution  in  1855,  looking 
to  this  as  the  "appropriate  work"  of  the  Convention.  At 
the  annual  meeting  in  1656,  the  Secretary,  Bev.  E.  Gunn, 
in  his  annual  report,  says:  "The  Board  held  its  first  meet- 
ing at  Mount  Pleasant  immediatel}^  after  the  final  adjourn- 
ment of  the  Convention  last  year.  At  that  meeting  it  was 
decided  to  hold  four  quarterly  meetings  during  the  year, 
and  the  time  and  place  of  holding  them  were  fixed.  It  was 
also  agreed  not  to  appoint  an  agent  for  raising  money,  but 
a  committee  was  selected,  of  one  from  each  Association  in 
the  State,  to  correspond  with  the  pastors  and  urge  it  upon 
them  to  take  collections  in  their  Churches.  The  question 
then  came  up  whether  missionaries  should  be  immediately 
appointed,  and  after  a  good  deal  of  deliberation  it  was 
decided  that  no  appointments  should  be  made  until  the 
money  should  be  forthcoming  for  their  support."  The 
Secretary  adds:  "This  last  resolution  was  doubtless  an  ill- 
considered  one.  We  ought  to  have  had  sufficient  confi- 
dence in  God,  in  our  Churches,  and  in  the  Baptists  of  Iowa 
to  have  entered,  at  once,  fearlessly  upon  the  work." 

The  result  of  the  policy  was  that  many,  "seeing  nothing 
done,  were  led  to  believe  that  nothing  would  be  done," 
and  the}^  "neglected  to  make  those  exertions  that  they 
would  have  made  had  they  understood  that  brethren  were 
already  in  the  field,  and,  in  need  of  the  contributions  of  the 
Churches''  for  their  support.  Some  "who  had  actually 
pledged  monej^  at  the  last  meeting  of  the  Convention,  not 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  55 

being  called  upon  for  it,  made  other  disposition  of  their 
means,"  and  afterwards  declined  to  do  anything.  "In  one 
case  quite  a  large  sum  of  money  was  actually  raised  for 
the  objects  of  the  Convention,  and  afterwards  appropriated 
to  the  home  necessities  of  the  Church."  The  inexpediency 
of  this  policy  of  distrust  had  become  manifest  by  the 
second  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  in  January,  1856,  at 
Burlington,  and  the  policy  ot  faith  took  its  place;  faith, 
though  in  its  practical  expression,  "'small  as  a  grain  of 
mustard  seed."  It  found  expression  in  the  appointment  of 
a  single  missionary.  This  first  missionaiy  commissioned 
by  the  Iowa  Baptist  State  Convention  was  Rev.  I.  M.  Seay. 
It  was  understood  that  his  labors  were  to  be  principally 
expended  within  the  bounds  of  the  Eden  Association.  It 
was  voted  at  the  same  meeting  to  assist  in  maintaining  a 
man  at  Decorah,  county  seat  of  Winnesheik  county,  pro- 
vided a  suitable  man  could  be  found.  This,  however,  was 
not  done,  and  it  is  a  notable  fact  that  that  flourishing 
county  seat  is  to  this  day  without  a  Baptist  Church.  A 
very  interesting  incident  in  the  writer's  missionary  labors, 
years  later,  is  associated  with  a  visit  lo  this  place,  but  it 
would  be  chronologically  out  of  place  here.  Perhaps  it 
may  find  record  later.  Xn  organization  was  subsequently 
had  at  Decorah,  but  it  in  a  few  years  became  extinct. 

The  second  missionary  actually  commissioned  b}"  the 
Convention,  was  Rev.  Richard  King,  appointed  at  the  end 
of  the  third  quarter  of  1856,  to  labor  in  Benton  county  the 
remainder  of  the  year.  These  two  veteran  missionaries  are 
still  living  and  faithfully  witnessing  for  the  Master;  Bro. 
Seay  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  State,  and  Bro.  King  at 
the  Danville  Church — the  ''motht  r  of  us  all.'' 

The  treasurer's  report  for  1856  shows  receipts,  $285.40, 
and  after  paying  Missionary  Seay  $75.00,  and  Missionary 


56  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

King  825.00,  and  paying  for  printing  minutes  and  postage 
and  traveling  expenses,  shows  a  balance  of  8103.40.  Dea- 
con Calvin  Craven  was  treasurer.  Thus  we  have  the  begin- 
ning of  a  work  which  has  since  grown  to  be  a  tree,  having, 
like  the  mustard  tree  of  the  parable,  many  branches  and 
many  flocking  into  them. 

The  secretary's  report  for  the  year  1856  ch)sed  with 
these  words:  "Your  board  would  express  again  the  confi- 
dent assurance  that  the  time  has  fully  come  when  this 
work  of  domestic  missions  should  be  prosecuted  by  the 
Baptists  of  Iowa  with  energy  and  determination,  and  that 
we  are  now,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  fully  able  to  enter 
upon  it.  We  would  therefore  recommend  that  'the  Con- 
vention instruct  the  new  board  to  originate  and  prosecute 
some  efficient  and  thorough  system  of  agency  for  the  ensu- 
ing year.  "  At  the  same  meeting,  after  much  discussion  of 
the  educational  problem,  then  dividing  the  state,  it  was  re- 
solved that  "in  view  of  the  paramount  importance  of  our 
domestic  mission  work,  we  do  not  think  it,  on  the  whole, 
best  to  take  any  further  action  in  this  body  on  [that]  sub- 
ject." This  became  the  settled  policy  of  the  Convention  ior 
many  years.  We  see  by  what  has  gone  before  how  thor- 
oughly the  minds  of  the  brethren  at  this  time  were  satura- 
ted with  the  imporcance  of  the  work  of  domestic  missions. 
We  trust  that  the  importance  of  the  subject  will  fully 
warrant  the  detailed  attention  given  to  its  beginnings  in 
these  sketches. 

In  pursuance  of  the  recommendation  of  the  board  noted 
above,  Rev.  J.  Y.  Aitchison,  then  just  from  Brooklyn,  N. 
Y.,  being  present  at  the  session,  was  appointed  financial 
agent  of  the  Convention  in  1856,  and  entered  at  once  upon 
the  duties  of  his  appointment.  He  was  the  Convention's 
first  financial  agent.  According  to  the  plan  as  expressed 
in  the  next  annual  report,  the  financial  agent  was  to  be 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  57 

much  more  than  that.  He  was  "to  travel  over  the  length 
and  breadth  of  the  state,  visit  as  far  as  possible  all  the 
churches,  the  smallest  as  well  as  the  largest,  preach  to 
them  Christ  and  him  crucified,  hold  protracted  meetings 
and  do  the  work  of  an  evangelist,  etc.,"  as  well  as  lay  be- 
fore them  the  claims  of  the  Convention,  and  ask  for  liberal 
contributions.  A  great  forward  stride  was  made  during 
the  years  1856  and  1857.  Besides  the  agent,  seven  other 
missionaries  were  appointed,  and  labored  all  or  a  part  of 
the  year ;  $2,087.20  were  raised  and  appropriated,  besides 
large  subscriptions  pledged  towards  future  work.  Fields 
occupied  were  Bedford  Association,  Benton  county,  Fair- 
field, Dewitt, — Clinton  county, — Bloomfield,  Keokuk  (Sec- 
ond Church),  and  AVinterset.  It  appears  that  several 
other  appointments  were  made,  but  no  reports  received 
from  them.  There  are  many  contingencies  in  domestic 
mission-work,  all  of  which  need  careful  study  and  the  ex- 
ercise of  care  and  wisdom  tliat  the  cause  be  not  hindered. 

When  the  first  year  of  work  under  the  agency  system 
came  to  be  summed  up,  it  was  found  that  of  the  $2,087.20 
raised  it  had  cost  for  agent's  outfit,  salary,  expenses,  horse- 
feed  and  medicine,  $1,233.78,  leaving  for  the  missionary 
and  other  expenses  of  the  Convention,  other  than  mission- 
ary work  done  by  the  agent,  only  8853.42.  The  work  done 
by  the  agent  had  of  necessity  been,  much  of  it,  breaking- 
ground,  sowing  seed  and  nurturing  it,  the  fruit  of  which, 
even  financial,  must  be  gathered  another  year.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  next  convention  year,  October,  1857,  the 
board  resolved  instead  of  a  collecting  agency  for  the  state, 
to  appoint  a  missionary  in  each  Association  whose  duty  it 
should  be,  in  addition  to  his  itinerant  missionary  work,  to 
collect  funds  for  the  Convention.  Such  appointments  were 
made  in  five  of  the  Associations.  At  the  April  meeting,  in 
1858,  it  was  deemed  necessary  to  appoint  an  agent  for  the 


58  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

remainder  of  the  3^ear,  and  Rev.  N.  S.  Bastion,  of  Dubuque, 
was  appointed  and  labored  for  five  and  a  half  months. 
Tlie  year  had  two  noted  features,  entering  with  opposite 
effects  into  the  problem  of  success  or  failure.  These  were 
(1)  the  great  financial  crisis  which  "well-nigh  palsied  our 
benevolence,  suddenly  dissipating  the  means  whicn  it  had 
been  hoped  to  expend  in  the  cause  of  God."  (2)  The  great 
revival  which  we  have  elsewhere  noted  in  these  sketches, 
and  which  doubtless  did  much  to  stay  the  tide  of  reac- 
tion that  tended  to  dry  up  the  springs  of  benevolence. 
^2,326.32  were  raised  at  an  expense  for  agents'  salary,  trav- 
eling expenses,  etc.,  of  only  $413.66  ;  counting  the  work  ©f 
the  Associational  missionaries  only  as  missionary  work. 

As  noted  above,  a  large  proportion  of  the  $2,326.82 
raised  in  1857-8  was  doubtless  from  the  ptayment  of  sub- 
scriptions taken  by  Brother  Aitchison  the  year  before,  and 
should  be  credited  to  that  year's  work  of  the  agent. 

The  experiment  of  getting  along  without  a  financial 
agent  did  not  prove  a  success,  and  at  the  annual  meeting 
in  1858,  after  thorough  discussion  of  the  subject,  an  ap- 
pointment was  tendered  Bro.  Dexter  P.  Smith,  of  Iowa 
City,  and  "after  much  prayerful  deliberation,  he  accej^ted, 
received  his  commission,  and  immediately  entered  upon 
the  work.''  The  following  description  of  the  ideal  finan- 
cial agent,  found  in  the  annual  report  of  the  secretary,  in 
1850,  is  worthy  of  being  emblazoned  upon  the  banner  of 
every  missionar}'^  society:  "It  should  be  deemed  all-im- 
portant that  a  financial  agent  possess  peculiar  qualities, 
besides  a  faculty  to  procure  large  subscriptions.  He 
should  possess  such  traits  of  character  as  will  make  his 
visits  to  the  churches  agreeable,  desirable,  and  withal  prof- 
itable to  them"  It  is  added  concerning  our  brother  that 
"his  praise  is  in  all  the  Churches."    Bro.  Smith  continued 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  59 

bis  labors  for  two  and  one-lialf  3^ears,  when  sickness  and 
subsequent  death  in  his  family  compelled  his  resionatiou, 
greatly  to  the  regret  of  those  who  were  then  sharing  with 
him  the  burdens  and  cares  of  our  domestic  mission  work. 

Perhaps  no  part  of  our  missionary  histor}-  is  more  fruit- 
ful for  study,  or  will  reward  it  with  more  profitable  lessons, 
than  this  under  review.  The  great  revival  and  consequent 
spiritual  activity  on  the  one  hand  ;  the  financial  stringency 
and  consequent  debt  on  the  other ;  the  gathering  war-cloud 
that  was  distracting  the  counrrj',  resulting  soon  in  the 
great  rebellion,  and  the  intiamed  passions  and  prejudices 
that  had  everywhere  to  be  met,  and  as  far  as  possible  mol- 
lified, all  conspired  to  make  it  a  period  fraught  with  unu- 
sual interest.  Beginning  when  the  Convention  was  at  least 
si, 000  in  debt,  Bro.  Smith's  labors  and  those  of  the  Board 
were  crowned  with  a  remarkable  degree  of  success,  in  see- 
ing all  the  old  debts  cancelled,  in  the  employment  of  from 
six  to  twelve  missionaries  besides  himself,  and  in  raising 
and  disbursing  !sl,922.90  in  1850  and  s2,925.o5  in  1860.  The 
Avriter  of  these  notes  had  many  oppoitunities  to  verify, 
years  afterward,  the  most  excellent  infiuence  left  upon  the 
Churches  throughout  the  State  by  these  two  and  one-half 
years  of  gracious  work. 

The  impulse  given  to  the  work  of  the  Convention, 
by  his  careful  and  wise  eft'orts,  will  be  needed  to  stem 
the  tide  of  adversity,  coming  in  like  a  flood  through 
1862,  and  after.  The  war  of  the  rebellion  was  making- 
its  fearful  inroads  upon  our  Churclies.  The  Board 
during  the  last  half  of  18G1  and  the  whole  of  1862, 
is  unable  to  secure  a  financial  agent.  At  the  January 
meeting  in  1862,  "a  very  worthy  and  competent  brother 
was  appointed;  but,  after  thoroughh^  considering  the 
whole  matter,  he  declined,  in  view  of  the  improbability  of 


60  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

raising  an  adequate  amount  of  money,"  owing  to  the 
pressure  of  tlie  war  and  taxes  upon  the  people.  The  work 
did  not,  however,  wholly  cease.  -  Six  missionaries  were 
appointed;  five  laboring  the  whole  year,  and  one  nine 
months.  Among  them  was  the  late  Alva  Bush,  who  lived 
then  at  Fayette,  in  Fayette  county,  and  divided  his  labors 
between  that  place  and  Strawberry  Point,  in  Clayton 
county,  and  Erie,  in  Buchanan  county.  It  was  not  long 
after  that,  he  started  Osage  Seminary. 

During  the  year  a  good  deal  of  volunteer  agency  work 
was  done.  The  Secretary,  Rev.  J.  F.  Childs,  gave  three 
months  to  this  work,  the  Church  at  Oskaloosa  cheerfully 
releasing  him  for  that  time.  All  the  expenses  of  the  year 
were  met,  a  debt  of  825(1.00  paid,  and  a  balance  left  in  the 
treasury,  of  $111.06,  the  entire  amount  raised  being  $964.63. 
The  writer  well  remembers  hearing  Rev.  J.  L.  Douglass,  of 
Burma,  who  was  present  at  the  Convention,  speak  of 
that  balance  in  the  treasury  as  the  only  discouraging 
feature  in  the  whole  meeting.  Of  course  it  was  a  humorous 
way  of  saying  that  a  Missionary  Society  ought  to  use  all 
that  is  contributed  in  tlie  work  of  the  year,  and  that  a 
surplus  in  the  treasury  is  a  temptation  to  give  less  the 
next  year.  A  thought  worth  considering.  One  cannot 
read  the  records  of  these  years  without  being  impressed 
how  deeply  in  earnest  the  brethren  of  that  day  were,  in 
this  work  of  evangelizino-  the  State. 


.fi-' 


CHAPTER  YIII. 


Appointment    of    Financial    Agent — Recollections. 

A  Day  of   Small   Things  — Progeess  —  Com- 

PAP.isoN  —  Death     of    a     Pioneeii. 


iT  the  meeting  in  1862,  held  in  Des  Moines, 
Revs.  J.  T.  Westover,  J.  A.  Nasli  and  I.  J. 
Stoddard  were  a  committee  on  agency.  They 
brouglit  in  a  report  recommending  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  general  missionaiy,  whose 
duty  it  should  be  to  "collect  funds  for  the  treasury,"  and  to 
"encourage  the  feeble  interests  and  scattered  brethren  in 
this  State,  by  counsel  and  the  preaching  of  the  word,  etc." 
There  were  other  recommendations  in  the  report  and,  "On 
motion  the  report  was  divided,  and  the  portion  of  it  per- 
taining to  the  emploj^ment  of  a  general  missionary,  after  a 
free  and  pretty  general  discussion,  was  especially  referred 
to  the  Board  with  the  recommendation  that  it  be  adopted." 

At  the  end  of  the  first  quarter,  January,  1863,  after  a 
good  deal  of  "casting  about,''  the  writer  of  these  Sketches, 
then  recently  licensed  to  the  ministry  by  the  Church  at 
Oskaloosa,  of  whicli  he  had  been  a  member  about  three 
3^ears,  meanwhile  engaged  in  the  occupation  of  teaching, 
was  appointed  by  the  Board  as  "General  Missionary  and 


62  HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES 

Financial  Agent"  for  the  remaining  nine  months  of  the 
year.  It  may  be  a  scarcely  pardonable  weakness  if  rli,e 
sketcher's  pen  should  linger  tremulously  for  a  moment, 
with  the  rush  of  recollections  that  are  awakened  by  the 
mention  of  that  experimental  date  in  our  history.  Though 
not  a  very  young  man,  the  agent  employed  was  exceedingly 
immature  in  every  qualification  for  the  responsibilities  of 
the  great  work  to  be  done ;  aye^  in  any  ade(iuate  aj^pre- 
hension  of  the  mafjnltude  of  the  Interests  in  hand.  The 
marvel  now  is  that  the  Board  should  have  risked,  or  that 
he  should  have  ventured  upon  it  at  all.  It  is,  however,  to 
be  remembered  that  it  was  a  day,  not  only  of  small  things, 
but  of  suppressed  expectations.  The  country  was  stag- 
gering and  almost  paralj'zed  under  the  cruel  blows  of  a 
gigantic  rebellion.  ''TJie  continuance  of  blood-shedding, 
the  fall  of  our  noble  braves  by  thousands  on  the  battle- 
fields, the  niHltiplying  of  widows  and  orphans,  the  dis- 
tressing fears  of  the  faint-hearted  and  the  trembling  of  the 
unbelieving,"'  were  on  every  hand.  The  recuperative 
power  of  the  nation's  unparalleled  financial  policy  liad  not 
yet  fully  shown  itself,  and  the  struggle  for  existence  was  a 
doubtful  one,  in  a  money  point  of  view.  The  salary  offered 
to  the  new  agent  was  only  8100  per  quarter  and  his  neces- 
sary traveling  expenses.  The  entire  cost  of  his  work,  for 
the  nine  months,  was  ^325.05.  Verily,  they  were  "times 
that  tried  men's  souls,"  and  as  we  look  back  over  the 
twenty-three  years,  and  think  of  the  true  and  tried  souls 
with  whom  we  were  then  brought  into  association,  Ave 
thank  God  and  take  courage  for  whatever  trials  are  yet  to 
come,  believing  that  then,  as  oftentimes,  we  were  being 
"led  by  a  way  which  we  had  not  known.'' 

It  was  the  beginning,  the  coming  years  proved,  of  a  new 
departure  in  Convention  work.  The  six  years  of  distinct- 
ive missionary   history    had   been  a  period   of  unsteady 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  63 

growth,  full  of  ups  and  downs;  now  a  year  of  active  ad- 
vance, now  of  contraction  and  struggle  in  payment  of  debts. 
The  relative  expense  of  collecting  funds  had  necessarily 
been  lieavj^,  though  the  work  was  worth  much  more  than  it 
cost.  With  1866  began  a  period  of  seven  j^ears'  steady 
growth.  The  following  statement  Avill  exhibit  it  in  the 
clearest  light: 

In  1863  there  were  9  missionaries  employed,  and  the 
total  receipts  of  the  Convention  were  §1,519.48 ;  in  1864, 
missionaries  10,  receipts  83,820.91  ;  I860,  missionaries  15, 
receipts  $4,405.68  ;  1866,  missionaries  16.  receipts  3,929.75  ; 
1867,  missionaries  23,  receipts  $5,338.25  ;  1868,  missionaries 
25,  receipts  §6,494.88  ;  1869,  missionaries  37,  receipts  §5,766.- 
10.  The  general  missionarj^  first  employed  in  January 
1863,  served  continuously  until  October  1869.  This  portion 
of  the  history  would  be  incomplete  without  the  mention 
that  for  all  these  years,  and  from  1859  to  1871,  Rev.  J.  F. 
Childs  filled  the  office  of  secretaiy,  doing  more  work  of  the 
kind  for  less  remuneration  doubtless,  than  has  ever  been 
done  by  any  other  one  man  in  Iowa. 

During  the  same  period  of  thirteen  years  the  Convention 
was  presided  over  by  A.  G.  Eberhart,  G.  J.  Johnson,  J.  M. 
Cogshall,  T.  S.  Griffith,  J.  A.  Nash,  M.  Sutton,  D.  S.  AVat- 
son,  J.  Fulton,  J.  T.  Westover,  E.  Eaton,  T.  F.  Thlckstun 
and  F.  Mott.  During  the  ^ears  included  in  the  above 
statement  the  American  Bax^tist  Home  Mission  Society  had 
missionaries  commissioned  in  Iowa  as  follows  :  In  1863, 
twenty  ;  in  1864,  thirty ;  in  1865,  thirty-five  ;  in  1866,  thirty; 
in  1867,  twenty-five;  in  1868,  thirteen,  and  in  18(59,  ten, 
making  the  number  of  missionaries  of  the  two  societies  to- 
gether for  the  same  years  respectively,  twenty-nine,  forty, 
fifty,  forty-six,  forty-eight,  thirty-eight  and  forty-seven. 
For  ten  years,  1862  to  1872,  the  receipts  of  the  Home  Mis- 


64  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

sion  Society  in  Iowa  amounted  to  ^5,858,  or  a  little  less 
than  $600  per  year.  As  the  falling  off  in  the  number  oi  ap- 
pointments was  in  the  last  years  of  the  decade,  1870  only 
having  six  in  the  State,  it  is  reasonable  to  conclude  that 
the  falling  off  in  receipts  would  correspond  so  that  the  re- 
ceipts of  the  Home  Mission  Society  for  the  seven  years 
taken  above  would  probably  be  from  ^600  to  $700  per  year 
on  an  average ;  or  by  adding  $600  to  the  total  receipts  of 
the  Convention  in  the  statement,  we  would  have  about  the 
sums  contributed  for  home  and  domestic  missions  during 
this  period. 

In  our  statement  Ave  have  taken  the  entire  amounts 
shown  in  the  treasurer's  report  for  the  respective  years, 
which  would  include  the  annual  collections  taken  at  the 
State  Convention  for  foreign  missions  and  other  like  objects. 
We  have  given  this  statement  in  the  interest  of  historical 
accuracy ;  believing  that  a  period  of  that  length  in  an  un- 
broken, continuous  policy",  is  almost  unique  in  Western 
domestic  missions,  and  in  its  results  is  suggestive  of  les- 
sons that  might  be  studied  to  advantage  in  planning  mis- 
sion work  for  a  long  time  to  come. 

Another  element  to  be  taken  account  of  is  the  fact,  that 
during  the  time  we  have  been  reviewing,  the  Churches  were 
taxed  as  in  no  other  period  of  our  history,  not  only  in  life- 
blood  poured  out  in  defense  of  our  country,  but  also  in 
contributions  for  the  Sanitary  Commission,  Christian  'Com- 
mission, and  other  calls  for  relief  of  our  suffering  defend- 
ers. Is  it  not  true  that  the  interests  of  religion  are  most 
liberally  sustained  wiien  the  channels  of  benevolence  have 
been  opened  by  some  great  demand  upon  the  people's  char- 
ities, and  that  they  suffer  most  when  God  has  shielded  us 
from  any  great  calamity  and  given  the  greatest  occasion 
for  making  thank-offerings  of  our  substance  to  him  ? 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  65 

We  will  close  this  review  of  the  Conventioii's  work  pri- 
or to  1870,  by  mentioning  that  the  success  which  culmina- 
ted in  1868  in  the  largest  amount  ever  raised  in  one  year 
had  the  effect  of  increasing  the  calls  and  leading  the  board 
to  overdo  in  appointments  the  next  year,  and  resulted  in  a 
debt  at  the  close  of  1869  of  i^^l, 322.89.  It  is  .not  the  purpose 
of  these  sketches  to  institute  any  comparison  between  the 
results  which  are  here  presented  and  the  subsequent  liis- 
tor}^  of  convention  work.  But  the  question  is  one  worth}^ 
of  consideration,  whether  with  the  noble  aid  held  out  to  us 
by  the  Home  Mission  Society,  and  the  increased  number  of 
individual  contributors  of  larger  sums,  and  the  increased 
expenditure  for  working  machinery,  we  are  reaching  re- 
sults commensurate  with  our  opportunit^y  and  responsi- 
bility. 

Since  beginning  this  chapter  of  the  sketches,  there 
has  passed  from  this  to  a  higher  sphere,  another  of  the 
oldest  of  our  pioneers,  Brother  Elihu  Chandler,  in  his 
ninetieth  year.  Born  in  Maine,  January  27,  1795,  he  came 
to  Ohio  in  1830,  and  to  Illinois  in  1831.  He  helped  to 
build  a  fort  in  Henderson  county  during  the  Black  Hawk 
war.  In  the  fall  of  1833  he  came  to  Iowa,  one  among  the 
first  to  stop  where  Burlington  now  is.  He  spent  six  weeks, 
most  of  the  time  '"splitting  rails  "  for  Dr.  Ross,  returned  to 
Illinois,  and  in  February  1834,  returned  to  Burlington,  and 
soon  afterward  came  to  the  neighborhood  west  of  Danville, 
where  he  has  since  lived.  He  was  married  to  Mrs.  Jemima 
Dobson,  June  21,  1835.  Mrs.  Dobson,  now  Chandler,  had 
arrived  in  the  neighborhood  about  a  week  after  tlie  organ- 
ization of  the  Long  Creek  Church,  noticed  in  the  beginning 
of  these  sketches,  and  is  the  only  survivor  of  its  member- 
ship  from  the  first  year  until  now.  Bro.  Chandler  was 
baptized  by  Rev.  Alexander  Evans,  in  June  1837,  and  was 
the  third   person  baptized  into  the  fellowship  of  what  is 


66  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

now  the  Danville  Baptist  Church,  and  therefore  probably 
the  third  in  the  territory  of  Iowa. 

In  connection  with  this  we  would  say  that  since  writing 
the  first  few  chapters  of  these  sketches,  we  have  received  a 
very  interesting  letter  from  the  eldest  daughter  of  Elder 
M.  J.  Post,  the  first  Baptist  minister  ordained  in  Iowa. 
She  was  fourteen  years  old  at  his  death,  had  been  for  sev- 
eral years  his  "pet"  and  constant  companion,  and  gives 
some  interesting  reminiscences  of  his  life  and  labors. 
These  will  appear  in  due  time. 


•t?  iW 


^^ir^JC.^^^; 


CHAPTER  IX. 


Educational  Society — A  Wide  Kange  of  Membership. 
Qualifications   for  the  Ministry — A  Distin- 
guished Beneficiary' — Farewell  Ser- 
vices— A  Costly  Contribution. 


AKING  lip  the  pen  to  write  this  Sketch,  I 
have  before  me  the  third  annual  report  of 
the  Iowa  Baptist  Educational  Society,  held 
in  Burlington,  July  6,  1858.  Glancing  over 
its  pages,  we  are  afforded  some  very  interest- 
ing reminiscences,  and  may  find  some  profit- 
able suggestions  by  comparison  of  the  work  of  the  year, 
with  what  has  been  done  in  recent  years  in  the  same  line 
of  work. 

The  first  page  of  proceedings  tells  us  that  "the  Presi- 
dent being  absent,  the  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  Rev. 
Silas  Tucker,  of  Galesburg,  Illinois."  The  Vice-President 
of  an  Iowa  Society,  was  a  distinguished  pastor  of  another 
State.  Those  in  other  States  acquainted  with  that  historic 
family  of  Baptist  ministers,  the  Tuckers,  will  not  be  sur- 
prised at  the  interest  he  was  taking  in  so  important  a 
work,  even  beyond  the  borders  of  his  own  State. 


68  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Besides  tliose  resident  in  Iowa,  we  find  solicitors  for 
tiie  Society  in  Oquawl^a,  Monmouth,  Fall  Creek,  Gales- 
burg,  Aurora,  Sublette.  Roseville  and  Peoria,  in  Illinois, 
and  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  Also  life-members  of  the 
Society,  constituted  by  the  payment  of  ten  dollars  each 
into  its  treasury,  in  Illinois,  New  York  Cit}^,  St.  Louis, 
Worcester,  Massachusetts,  Middletown,  Connecticut,  Glov- 
ersville,  New  York,  and  in  Stockholm,  Sweden.  The  last 
w^as  Rev.  Andreas  Wiberg.  TJiere  are  recorded  eighty -five 
names  of  life-members  at  this  date.  The  Treasurer's  r^iort 
sliows  rt^  986.70  raised  and  expended.  Eleven  young 
brethren  had  been  aided  in  their  studies.  It  is  to  be 
regretted  that  their  names  are  not  given  in  the  report. 
Doubtless  the  list  would  include  some  who  have  made  a 
creditable  mark  in  the  aclive  work  of  the  ministry  during 
the  nearly  thirty  years  of  histoiy-making  since. 

E.  Crane,  Silas  Tucker,  Isaac  Butterfield,  G.  J.  Johnson 
and  Isaac  Leonard  were  the  Executive  Board ;  Isaac 
Leonard,  Secretary.  They  speak  especially  of  tlieir  desire, 
in  seeking  out  young  men.  and  aiding- them  in  their  prepa- 
ration for  the  ministry,  (1)  ''to  discover  the  evidences  of  a 
Divine  call  to  the  ministr}'.""  All  other  qualifications 
without  this,  "would  render  such  a  ministry  powerless  to 
save  souls.''  "A  soul-saviiig  ministry  is  the  standing 
want  of  the  Church  and  the  world,  in  every  age  and  clime, 
and  nothing,  however  splendid,  learned  or  brilliant,  will 
or  can  supply  its  absence.''  Their  desire  was  (2),  to  dis- 
cover "mental  power  to  capacitate  the  person  for  work." 
First,  a  heart — largeness  of  heart;  second,  a  mind  open  to 
light  and  knowledge.  "A  desire  to  acquire  and  some  apti- 
tude to  receive  instruction."  Several  of  these  students 
received  instruction  "under  the  judicious  training  and 
excellent  tuition  of  Rev.  Prof.  L.  B.  Allen,  of  Burlington, 
University. 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  69 

The  seventh  annual  report  of  the  Society  for  1862,  is 
also  before  me.  It  shows  si, 143. 04  raised  and  thirteen 
beneficiaries  aided.  Bro.  James  Sunderland  had  been  acting 
as  financial  agent,  but  owing  to  the  hardness  of  the  times, 
was  dismissed,  at  his  own  request,  early  in  the  year.  Rev. 
O.  T.  Conger,  then  of  Edgington,  Illinois,  preached  the 
annual  sermon,  and  Rev.  A.  F.  Willey  was  elected  Secre- 
tary. The  number  of  life -memberships,  by  the  payment 
of  ten  dollars  each,  has  arisen  to  241. 

What  landmarks  along  life's  journey,  to  be  traced  in 
after  years,  do  these  records  of  society  work  produce  ! 
How  many  familiar  names  here  cheer  the  eye  !  Among 
the  beneficiaries  of  the  Iowa  Baptist  Educational  Society 
about  the  time  of  wliich  we  now  write,  was  one  whose  sub- 
sequent career  will  warrant  a  larger  place  in  these  sketch- 
es. Born  in  Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  removed 
when  a  child  by  his  parents  to  Illinois,  and  soon  afterwards 
to  the  prairies  of  Iowa,  the  age  of  fourteen  or  fifteen  finds 
him  an  active,  healthy  boy  on  his  father's  Iowa  farm.  A 
.party  of  surveyors  going  farther  west  to  survey  the  vast 
prairie  domains  of  Western  Iowa  and  possibly  still  farther 
west,  are  in  need  of  a  boy  to  "carry  the  hatchet  and  make 
himself  generally  useful. "  With  father's  consent  and 
mother's  blessing,  our  pioneer  boy  joins  them  and  spends 
three  or  four  years  amid  the  exposures  incident  to  such  a 
mode  of  life.  The  rough  language  and  demoralizing  influ- 
ences of  such  a  life  are  well  known,  but  they  seem  to  have 
made  little  impression  upon  him.  "His  eyes  were  open  to 
see  all  that  was  w^orth  seeing.  His  ears  were  open  to  hear 
whatsoever  was  worthy  of  being  treasured  up."  His  hands 
were  ready  to  handle  the  various  implements  of  the  craft, 
and  "quietly  and  almost  unconsciously  he  learned  the  art 
of  surveying."  Soon  "he  was  master  of  the  situation," 
"self-revealed,  a  new  man  to  his  own  recognition.  " 


70  HISTOKICAL   SKETCHES 

Before  leaving  camp  he  had  changed  the  whole  plan  and 
purpose  of  his  life.  Ont  of  his  own  deep  consciousness  he 
said,  "There  is  something  in  me.  I  do  not  follow  this 
business  as  a  life  work."  Neither  would  he  go  back  to  the 
farm  as  a  permanenc}^  He  would  seek  a  place  of  instruc- 
tion, would  apply  himself  to  books,  would  become  a  law- 
yer, "and  in  that  service  fight  the  battle  of  life."  He 
came  to  Burlington  and  entered  upon  his  studies  at  the 
Burlington  University.  "Without  any  purpose  of  his 
own,  or  any  plan  on  the  part  of  others,  his  attention  was 
arrested  by  the  differences  between  the  character  and  bear- 
ing of  the  persons  whom  he  had  recentl}^  left  and  those 
with  whom  he  was  now  associated,  and  in  daily  and  hour- 
ly contact.  'AVh}^,'  he  asked  himself,  'this  difference?' 
What  can  it  be  that  makes  everj^thing  here  so  gentle,  kind, 
affectionate  and  pure,  as  compared  with  the  scenes  and 
persons  left:""  These  people  read  the  Bible  and  pray  to 
God.  "So  his  thoughts  labored.  His  laboring  thoughts 
drove  him  at  length  to  the  Bible.  The  Bible  drove  him  to 
a  throne  of  Grace  :  the  throne  of  Grace  led  him  to  the  life 
and  love  -of  a  bleeding  Redeemer  Avhere  he  found  peace  in 
believing.  "  That  boy,  surveyor,  student,  inquirer,  con- 
vert, was  John  E.  Clough. 

We  have  condensed  the  above  graphic  account  of  his 
early  life  from  a  paper  written  some  time  ago  by  the  late 
Jonah  G.  Warren.  From  the  same  source,  and  from  per- 
sonal acquaintance  beginning  soon  afterwards,  we  know 
that  "old  plans  w^ere  now  changed  for  new.  A  new  law  of 
life  in  Christ  Jesus  had  sprung  up.  On  the  spontaneous 
utterance  of  this  new  life  he  said,  "If  there  is  a  spot  on 
earth  .where  the  darkness  of  sin  is  more  dense  than  any 
other,  to  that  let  me  go,  and  there  let  me  spend  my  life  in 
telling  my  fellow  sinners  what  a  treasure  I  have  found.'" 
Soon  after  the  completion  of  his  studies,  he  entered  upon 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  71 

colporteur  work,  and  in  a  short  time,  with  liis  no))le  Avife, 
applied  to  the  committee  of  the  Missionary  Union  for  ap- 
pointment to  the  foreign  field. 

The  writer  has  a  most  vivid  recollection  of  an  afternoon 
spent  with  them  at  their  home  in  Strawberry  Point  about 
this  time.  The  determination  had  been  formed  on  their 
own  part  and  correspondence  with  the  Boston  Committee 
was  soon  to  determine  whether  it  was  worth  while  to  go  to 
Boston  for  a  personal  examination.  There  Avas  no  ebulli- 
tion of  enthusiasm,  nor  a  very  sanguine  expectation. 
Nothing  had  as  yet  been  said  to  either  of  their  parents, 
or  to  near  relatives,  of  their  purpose,  though  one  mother 
lived  in  the  same  house  and  the  other  in  the  same  village. 
The  view  taken  was  that  it  would  be  time  enough  to  tax 
their  affections  with  the  trial  of  separation  when  it  became 
certain  tliat  they  might  go. 

We  greatly  admired  their  thoughtfulness  and  their 
calm  delibeiation,  and  have  since  discovered  that  there 
was  evinced  in  it  all  a  very  important  qualification  for  the 
Herculean  work  for  which  God  was  preparing  tlieni.  A 
different  temperament  would  many  times  have  broken 
down  under  the  mighty  burden. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  State  Convention  in  18(54,  held  at 
Cedar  Rapids,  farewell  services  were  held  on  the  Sabbath. 
Man}^  still  remember  with  a  thrill  of  interest  the  scene. 

There  was  one  part  of  the  farewell  service  that  made  an 
ineradicable  impression  upon  at  least  one  mind.  Father 
Asa  Chapin  gave  the  farewell  address  with  hand  of  fellow- 
ship. In  the  beginning  of  his  remarks  he  seemed  over- 
whelmed with  embarrassment,  and  almost  want  of  any 
words  to  say.  As  he  felt  his  way  with  trembling  and  falt- 
ering words,  the  thought  seemed  to  spring  up,  as  if  sud- 
denly, in  his  mind  of  the  communication  which  we  of  Iowa 


72  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

should  keep  up  with  the  departed  missionaries  through 
the  medium  of  prayer.  It  would  be  lils:e  a  telegraphic  com- 
munication. We  here  at  one  end  of  the  line  and  they  at 
trhe  other,  and  God's  spirit  the  medium  of  transmission. 
We  have  seldom  heard  more  eloquent  strains  than  those 
of  Father  Chapin  when  fully  possessed  of  that  thought. 
And  what  messages  there  have  been  since  to  flash  over 
that  spiritual  telegraph ! 

For  a  part  of  the  year  1859,  Brother  Clough  was  treas- 
urer of  the  Iowa  Baptist  State  Convention.  He  was  then  a 
student  in  Burlington.  Apropos  of  the  beginning  of  this 
sketch,  we  may  close  it  with  this  incident : 

Dr.  G.  J.  Johnson  has  somewhere  related  that  once 
when  pastor  at  Burlington  he  "crossed  over  into  Illinois  to 
solicit  aid  for  some  needy  students  in  the  Burlington  In- 
stitute. ''  At  Roseville  a  brother  promised  to  give  ten  dol- 
lars iu  thirty  days.  The  money  came,  and  a  short  time 
afterwards  Dr.  Johnson  met  the  donor  again  and  was  told 
that  the  money  was  raised  in  this  way  :  The  man  had  been 
obliged  to  carry  eighty  bushels  of  corn  eighteen  miles  to 
Monmouth  over  muddy  roads,  and  sell  it  for  twelve  and  a 
half  cents  per  bushel.  He  very  naturally  intimated  that 
it  was  ''more  than  he  bargained  for.  " 

Years  passed  and  Dr.  Johnson  met  the  man  again  and 
asked  him  if  he  remembered  the  fact  of  his  giving  the  ten 
dollars  and  how  he  raised  it.  He  replied  that  he  did  decid  - 
edly  and  that  he  had  always  thought  it  was  a  hard-earned 
ten  dollars.  When  told  that  the  money  he  gave  went  to 
assist  JohnE.  Clough  in  his  studies,  than  whom  there  had 
been  no  more  successful  missionary  in  foreign  lands,  he 
was  greatly  surprised,  and  exclaimed,  "Thank  God  that  I 
did  it,  now  ! " 


REV.  J.  E.  CLOUGH, 


CHAPTER  X. 


Western   Iowa — Denisojst — A   Blizzard   and   an    Inci- 
dent— Reminiscences — North  Eastern  Iowa. 
The  Providence    of  Missions— In- 
direct Results. 


E  write  this  sketch  in  one  of  the  newest  parts 
of  Western  Iowa  ;  in  the  Maple  Valley.  As 
we  write  in  "Sketches"  we  may  follow  the 
suggestions  of  Association,  and  dot  down, 
here,  some  recollections  of  this  Western  part 
of  the  State.  As  previously  noticed,  the  Western  Iowa 
Baptist  Association  was  organized  in  1859. 

For  two  or  three  years  previous  there  had  appeared  in 
our  records  the  name  of  the  Denison  Church,  unassociated, 
with  sixteen  members.  Denison  is  seventy -five  miles 
northeast  of  Council  Bluffs,  and  about  the  same  distance 
southeast  of  Sioux  City.  At  neither  of  these  places  Avas 
there  yet  a  Baptist  Church,  nor  at  any  point  between,  prior 
to  1860,  except  that  there  had  appeared  at  Council  Bluffs, 
in  1850,  a  Church  with  thirty-five  members,  which  is  noted 
for  three  or  four  years,  without  change,  and  then  disap- 
pears for  several  years  after.  At  Sac  City  was  a  Church 
of  eleven  members  in  1859,  with  Charles  Oldfield  as  pastor. 


74  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Denison  may  be  taken,  therefore,  as  the  typical  pioneer 
point  for  Baptists  in  a  large  district  in  Western  Iowa.  An 
incident  of  its  early  settlement  may  be  cited  as  typical  of 
what  it  cost  to  take  and  hold  some  of  these  outposts  for 
Christ  and  civilization  thirty  years  ago.  Rev.  J.  W.  Deni- 
son  "came  to  Crawford  county,  Iowa,  in  the  Autumn  of 
1855,  and,  during  that  and  the  next  year,  selected  a  quan- 
tity of  land  for  the  Providence  Western  Land  Company, 
and  in  September,  1856,  began  the  settlement  of  the  town  of 
Denison,''  which  took  irs  name  from  him.  The  incident  we 
are  about  to  recite  was  related  to  the  writer  several  _years 
after,  b}^  Mr.  Denison,  in  his  own  home  in  the  then  nour- 
ishing village. 

It  was  in  the  severe  winter  of  1856  and  1857.  There 
were  three  or  four  settlers'  shanties  in  groups,  some 
distance  apart,  on  the  new  town  site.  There  came  one  of 
those  terrific  western  "  blizzards "  so  well  remembered  by 
the  early  settlers.  The  wind  and  snow,  driven  with  unob- 
structed violence  into  the  faces  of  an^^  who  ventured  a  few 
feet  from  shelter,  rendered  it  impossible  to  see  any  guiding 
object.  A  man  might  be  totally  bewildered  and  lost  within 
a  rod  of  his  own  door  Becoming  anxious  for  the  welfare 
of  the  families  in  another  group  of  cabins  a  little  distance 
away,  two  men  started  out  in  tlie  blinding  storm  to  try  and 
make  their  way  to  the  rude  houses  of  their  neighbors. 
Becoming  separated  in  a  little  time,  one  of  them  was  fortu- 
nate enough  to  find  the  shelter  sought;  but  the  other  wan- 
dered about  in  the  storm  until  exhausted,  and  laid  in  the 
pitiless  cold  all  through  the  night.  When  found  the  next 
day  he  was  still  alive,  but  so  badly  frozen  that  it  was  evi- 
dent his  life  could  onl}^  be  saved,  if  at  all,  by  the  help  of 
a  surgeon  to  amputate  the  frozen  members.  But  there 
was  no  surgeon  nearer  than  Council  Bluffs,  seventy-five 
miles  distant.     What  could  be  done?      Humane  feeling 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  75 

and  frontier  courage  did  not  hesitate.  Through  the  stinging 
cold,  that  always  succeeded  a  regular  blizzard,  and  over  the 
unbroken  roads,  down  the  Boyer  and  the  Missouri  Valleys, 
J.  W.  Denison  himself  made  his  way  on  horseback,  to 
Council  Bluffs,  to  procure  the  necessary  assistance.  Relat- 
ing this  incident  as  he  remembered  it,  at  a  late  meeting  of 
the  Western  Iowa  Association,  the  writer  was  met  soon  after 
by  an  old  settler  of  the  lower  Boyer,  who  assured  him 
that  the  facts  were  substantially  as  related,  his  home  being 
on  Bro.  Denison's  way  as  he  made  his  perilous  journey. 

Whether  th^  man  recovered  or  not,  we  are  not  now  able 
to  say  ;  but  we  deem  the  incident  worth}-  of  record  here, 
as  a  reminder  of  what  had  to  be  endured  to  secure  for  us 
the  heritage  of  sucli  a  field  for  missionary  toil  as  Western 
Iowa  now  affords.  AVe  make  the  record,  not  without  the 
hope  that  some  hearts,  in  homes  of  comfort  and  luxury, 
ma}^  be  softened  thereby,  to  look  more  kindly  upon,  and  to 
jie\d  a  more  cheerful  and  liberal  support  to  a  mission  that 
has  been  handed  down  to  us  by  such  courageous  struggles. 

The  Western  Association,  planted  in  such  soil  and  nur- 
tured by  such  hands,  made  steady  if  slow  growth.  Up  to 
1867,  comprising  as  it  did  the  territory  from  Winterset, 
Madison  county,  and  Jefferson,  Greene  county,  all  the  way 
to  the  Missouri  river  and  north  to  the  northern  line  of  the 
State,  there  were  reported  only  309  members.  George 
Scott,  at  Denison,  A.  W.  Russell,  at  Jefferson,  B.  Robin- 
son, at  Rippey,  J.  E.  Rockwood,  at  Sioux  City,  and  W.  A. 
Eggleston,  at  Winterset,  were  the  pastors  this  year.  The 
same  territory  now  reports  about  1,650  resident  members. 
One  of  the  earliest  missionaries  on  this  field  was  Rev. 
Charles  Oldfield.  We  find  him  at  Sac  City  in  1859  wath  a 
church  of  eleven  members.  In  the  fall  of  that  year,  or 
during  the  Convention  year,  he  was  under  appointment  of 


76  HISTOKICAL    SKETCHES 

the  Convention  Board  and  was  re-appointed  in  October, 
1860.  His  field  is  thus  described  in  1861 :  "This  is  the 
most  western  mission  in  the  state.  It  is  at  the  head-waters 
of  the  Coon  river,  running  into  the  Mississippi,  and  of  the 
Boyer,  running  into  the  Missouri,  about  midway  in  the 
State  north  and  south.  Its  importance  as  a  missionary 
field  no  one  will  question,  noi-  the  fact  of  its  destitution.  " 
In  the  report  of  1860  it  is  said:  "The  Church  at  Sac  City 
is  forty  miles  from  the  nearest  Baptist  Church."  The  mis- 
sionary traveled,  to  fill  his  appointments  in  two  counties, 
most  of  the  time  on  foot.  His  appropriation  from  the  Board 
was  '$1U0,  of  which  he  collected  on  the  field  :^5.03,  and  also 
collected  on  salary  $60,  from  which  we  understand  that  his 
salary  for  the  year  was  $160 ;  and  from  the  treasurer's  re- 
port it  appears  that  of  the  one  hundred  appropriated  by 
the  Convention  only  $12.50  was  received  until  the  end  of 
the  year  (October  19)  when  $82.50  was  credited  as  paid  to 
him.  We  have  thought  these  particulars^worth  mention, 
as  the  best  index  to  the  real  sacrifices  of  this  first  seed- 
sowing,  from  which  we  are  permitted  to  reap  the  harvest. 
While  sketching  the  history  of  the  Avork  in  the  thinly 
populated  parts  of  the  state,  the  writer  may  be  permitted 
to  introdtice  a  personal  recollection  or  two  illustrating  some 
of  the  lines  of  influence  by  which,  in  the  Providence  of 
missions,  indirect  results  are  often  reached. 

In  the  fall  of  1865,  Rev.  Gr.  S.  Bailey,  D.  D.,  was  Super- 
intendent of  Missions  in  Illinois,  and  the  writer  General 
Missionary  in  Iowa.  A  letter  was  directed  to  Dr.  Bailey 
by  mistake  from  a  neighborhood  in  the  northern  part  of 
Winneshiek  county,  Iowa.  Upon  opening  and  discovering 
that  it  was  in  our  field,  he  forwarded  it  to  me.  It  was 
written  by  a  Baptist  sister,  and  set  forth  that  there  were 
several  Baptist  families  in  the  neighborhood  ;  that  there 
had  been  some  religious  interest  in  the  community,  and  a 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  77 

number  of  persons  liacl  been  converted  and  wished  to  be 
baptized,  among  them  an  old  lady  of  seventy  years.  They 
did  not  know  where  to  send  for  a  Baptist  minister,  and 
wanted  a  missionary  sent  to  look  after  that  field.  It  being 
impossible  to  visit  that  distant  field  before  the  following 
spring,  we  wrote  such  encouraging  words  as  we  could,  and 
so  the  matter  passed  for  the  time.  In  the  spring  of  1866 
we  directed  our  way  by  horse  and  buggy  from  the  south- 
ern to  the  northeastern  part  of  tile  state. 

Rev.  C.  D.  Farnsworth  was  pastor  at  Waukon,  in  Alla- 
makee county.  He  volunteered  to  go  with  the  writer  twen- 
ty miles  to  Decorah,  in  AVinneshiek  county,  and  thence 
fourteen  or  fifteen  miles  to  the  north  in  search  of  those  few 
sheep  in  the  wilderness,  spoken  of  in  the  correspondence  of 
the  previous  fall.  Late  in  the  afternoon  we  joassed  three 
or  four  emigrant  wagons  camped  by  the  roadside,  and 
wondered  that  they  had  stopped  so  early,  for  the}^  seemed 
to  have  been  camped  some  time.  Reaching  the  neighbor- 
hood where  we  hoped  to  find  the  objects  of  our  search 
late  at  night.  We  were  met  with  this  sorrowful  stor}^ 

The  families  we  were  looking  for,  becoming  discouraged, 
and  tired  of  waiting  for  the  religious  privileges  they  so 
longed  for,  had  sold  their  possessions  and  started  together 
to  seek  a  new  home  in  Western  Iowa.  While  the  men 
were  training  the  loose  stock  into  the  way,  the  women  were 
driving  the  teams.  Only  a  few  miles  on  their  wa.y,  a  team 
had  become  unmanageable,  a  wagon  had  been  upset,  and 
the  driver,  the  mother  of  a  large  famil}^  killed.  Another, 
an  old  mother  in  Israel,  was  severely  injured.  These  were 
the  emigrants  we  had  seen  by  the  roadside,  waiting  to  bury 
their  dead  and  take  care  of. the  surviving  sufferer.  We 
visited  them  tlie  next  day,  and  administered  such  poor 
comfort  as  we  could.     We  received  more  than  we  gave,  in 


78  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

the   lesson   of   sweet   Christian   resignation   and   patience 
shown  by  the  suffering  saint. 

This  ended,  seemingly,  a  correspondence  from  which 
we  had  hoped  might  spring  a  very  different  class  of  direct 
results.      Seemingly,  but  that  was  not  the  end. 

Five  or  six  weeks  afterwards,  the  General  Missionary, 
having  zigzagged  his  way  with  horse  and  buggy,  from  the 
northeast  to  the  southwest  corner  of  the  State,  was  address- 
ing a  missionary  meeting  in  Glenwood  Very  naturally,  he 
dwelt  upon  the  correspondence  and  the  incidents  above  nar- 
rated. An  indelible  impression  had  been  made  upon  the 
speaker's  mind.  Two  years  later,  being  again  in  that  part 
of  the  State,  we  met  a  brother  whose  zealous  and  success- 
ful work  for  the  year  or  two  back  as  a  colporteur  and 
evangelist,  had  been  frequently  noted.  To  our  surprise, 
he  told  us  that  the  incident  related  in  the  missionary 
meeting  at  Glenwood  had  been  the  means  of  his  quicken- 
ing from  a  backslidden  and  spiritually  torpid  state,  into 
the  life  he  now  so  much  enjoyed,  and  that  God  had  so 
greatly  blessed.  He  said,  "I  can  distinctly  remember  the 
very  seat  in  the  Glenwood  meeting  house  where  I  sat  when 
you  gave  this  recital,  and  how  it  thrilled  mv  whole  being." 
In  the  report  of  Convention  receipts  for  186(5  is  found  this 
item:  "Missionary  meeting  at  Glenwood,  $74.20." 

Another  incident  of  the  same  visit,  "Seeking  the  few 
sheep  in  the  wilderness''  of  Winneshiek  county,  will 
appropriately  close  this  sketch .  Leaving  the  sorrowing  emi- 
grants, as  noted  awhile  ago,  Bro.  Farnsworth  and  the  writer 
returned  to  Decorah,  where  we  had  left  an  appointment  to 
hold  service  in  the  Methodist  Church.  The  object  was  to 
call  together  the  eight  or  ten  Baptists  in  the  flourishing 
little  city,  and  confer  with  them  relative  to  organizing  for 
work.     There  were  but  two  Protestant  English-speaking 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  79 

Churches  in  this  city  of  nearly  3,000  inhabitants.  The 
Methodist  and  the  Congregationalist  were  the  two.  After 
the  service  the  Baptists  were  invited  to  tarry  for  a  confer- 
ence, and  any  others  who  would.  Three  or  four  brethren 
spoke  freely  their  sentiments.  They  were  Baptists,  and 
would  prefer  to  work  and  worship  in  a  Church  of  their 
own  faith.  But  they  would  deprecate  at  present  any  effort, 
to  start  another  Church.  They  wished  first  to  see  the  two 
Protestant  Churches  on  a  firm  footins;.  One  Methodist 
brother  whose  wife  was  a  Baptist,  would  like  to  see  a  Bap- 
tist Church,  and  would  contribute  cheerfully  to  aid  it.  Rev. 
Mr.  Swearingen  was  the  Methodist  pastor.  He  was  invited 
to  speak.  He  said  he  hardly  knew  what  to  say.  He  knew 
what  he  would  say  were  he  a  Baptist.  He  would  not  talk 
as  these  Baptist  brethren  had.  If  there  were  only  six  Metho- 
dists in  the  place,  he  would  say,  Organize  and  go  to  work. 
He  did  not  believe  the  organization  of  another  Church 
would  weaken  those  already  there.  The  meeting  closed  in 
excellent  feeling,  and  the  next  morning  we  took  our 
departure. 

After  a  lapse  of  several  months,  the  writer  received  a 
letter  from  one  of  the  Baptist  brethren  who  had  discour- 
aged organization.  He  had  seen  his  mistake  and  had 
changed  his  mind. 

A  missionary  was  afterwards  located  at  Decorah,  and 
in  1868  we  find  reported  eleven  baptisms,  and  a  church  of 
thirty-three  members.  True,  there  were  adverse  conditions. 
The  field  was  not  very  fruitful,  and  the  Church  was  short- 
lived. But  what  of  those  eleven  converted  and  baptized  ? 
Who  knows  'i 

It  will  be  remembered,  as  before  noted  in  these  sketches, 
that  the  Convention  Board,  in  the  very  beginning  of  its 
work,  voted  to  assist  in   maintaining  a  man   at  Decorah, 


80  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

"provided  a  suitable  man  could  be  found  to  occupy  that 
field  ;"  but  "no  way  was  found  for  completing  the  arrange- 
ment,  and  that  point  is  still  unoccupied.''  And  so  it  is  still, 
after  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

Thus  "Man  proposes  and  God  disposes."  More  and 
more  does  the  conviction  fasten  itself  upon  us  as  we  study 
the  past,  that  in  this  exercise  of  faith  we  must  "sow  beside 
all  waters, "  entering  open  doors  as  they  are  made  open 
unto  us,  but  leaving  the  disposing  of  the  event  to  a  wis- 
dom higher  than  our  own.  But  let  us  not  be  deceived,  and 
credit  our  failure  to  enter  the  open  door  to  His  disposal, 
when,  as  may  be  the  case,  it  is  due  to  neglect  on  our  part. 

Among  the  Baptists  at  Decorah  at  the  time  of  our  visit, 
there  was  one  brother  and  his  wife,  who  had  been  members 
of  the  Church  at  Burlington.  They  and  a  few  others  occu- 
pied social  positions  that  would  have  been,  if  consecrated, 
a  power  in  behalf  of  the  truth  as  we  hold  it  and  as  they 
believed  it. 


CHAPTER.  XI. 


'<^'<1j)QJ/ 


An  Appreciative  Letter — Remhstiscence — A  Hundred 
Cents  on  the  Dollar — Another  lp:tter — A 
Death  Bed  Scene — A  Life  Member- 
ship IN  a  Defunct  Society. 


|HIS  cliapter  is^written  with  a  veiy  apprecia- 
tive letter  from  Rev.  Dexter  P.  Smith,  D.  D., 
of  Santa  Anna,  California,  lying  before  us. 
He  says  :  "In  your  reference  to  the  indebt- 
edness of  the  Convention  in  1858,  when  I 
accepted  the  appointment  of  financial  agent, 
involving  the  work  of  general  missionary,  you  say,  'the 
Convention  was  at  least  $1,000  in  debt,'"  and  he  adds, 
"yes,  $2,000.  The  paper  of  the  Convention  was  accepted 
in  the  market  at  the  time  only  at  a  heav}^  discount,  and  so 
stringent  were  financial  matters  that  some  good  brethren 
expressed  a  fear  that  the  Convention  would  have  to  repu- 
diate the  debt,  while  most  felt  that  we  could  not  aflord 
such  a  blot  upon  our  history.  The  orders  of  the  Conven- 
tion were  found  in  the  hands  of  various  business  men — 
some  of  them  Catholics — to  whom  embarrassed  missiona- 
ries, compelled  by  pressing  wants,  had  sold  them  for  what 
they   could  get. "     When,  therefore,   the   oiders  were  all 


82  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

looked  up  and  paid  at  their  face  value,  every  debt  can- 
celled, the  paper  of  the  Convention  advanced  to  par  value, 
and  with  our  self-sacrificing  missionaries  provided  for,  it 
is  no  marvel  that  we  breathed  more  freel}',  thanked  God 
and  took  courage  ;  aye,  that  we  felt  like  erecting  an  Ebene- 
zer,  ncknowledging  'hitherto  the  Lord  hath  helped  us.-" 
There  are  many  in  Iowa  who  will  remember  those  trying 
days,  and  that  rejoicing  at  the  emergence.  And  all  of  us 
together  can  rejoice  to-day  that  repudiation  has  never 
soiled  the  banner  of  the  Iowa  Baptist  State  Convention. 
We  remember  how  Dr.  Murdock  told  us  in  1882,  at 
Davenport,  that  the  paper  of  the  Missionary  Union  was 
bought  in  the  exchange  marts  of  the  world  because  of  its 
high  character  as  a  security.  Have  we  not  here  a  testimo- 
nial worth  considering  to  the  inherent  excellence  of  the 
Christian  religion  ;;  What  other  class  of  securities  based 
upon  whatever  foundation  can  say  as  much  as  this — that 
through  a  long  series  of  years  its  paper  has  never  been 
paid  at  less  than  one  hundred  cents  on  the  dollar- — and 
that  where  the  only  foundation  is  the  plighted  faith  of  a 
covenanted  Cliristian  brotherhood? 

Brother  Smith,  with  his  most  estimable  wife,  is  now  en- 
joying a  serene  contemplation  of  life's  declining  sun  at 
Santa  Anna,  California  He  says  :  "Your  sketches  awaken 
many  precious  memories  of  Iowa.  I  love  Iowa ;.  I  love  her 
prairies,  her  rivers,  and  her  groves.  I  love  her  people,  her 
churches,  her  work,  and  her  noble  workers.  God  bless 
them  ;  man}*  of  tlieir  names  are  embalmed  in  my  choicest 
recollections.  The  very  thought  of  meeting  and  greeting 
them  'over  there'  is  an  inspiration.  "  We  have  said  earlier 
in  these  sketches  that  we  hoped  one  of  their  ministries 
might  be  to  revive  and  to  emphasize  many  of  these  sancti- 
fied personal  associations  of  our  Iowa  Christian  life.  How 
often  are  we  reminded  of  what  is  said  by  the  writer  of  the 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  83 

Epistle  to  the  Hebrews  as  to  what  we  have  come  to  in  com- 
ing to  Christ  by  faith,  and  accepting  him  as  our  High 
Priest.  (Read  Hebrews  xii,  22-24).  Referring  again  to 
these  earlier  days  for  the  purpose  of  introducing  facts 
gleaned  since  our  sketches  of  those  days  were  written,  we 
may  suitably  insert  some  extracts  from  a  letter  received 
some  time  ago  from  Mrs.  John  Hagy,  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa. 

Mrs.  Hagy  was  the  eldest  daughter  of  Elder  M.  J.  Post, 
referred  to  at  the  proper  time  as  the  first  Baptist  minister 
ordained  in  the  Territory  of  Iowa.  She  gives  us  these  ad- 
ditional facts  about  her  father  : 

M.  J.  Post  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Vermont,  June 
8th,  1812.  He  was  educated  there,  and  baptized  when 
fourteen  years  of  age.  Coming  West,  he  preached  first  a 
while  ill  St.  Francisville,  Missouri,  and  then  came  to  Iowa 
in  1842.  His  daughter  says:  "At  Rochester,  Van  Buren 
county,  Iowa,  he  started  a  prayer  meeting  when  I  was  only 
seven  years  old,  and  Mr.  Rudd  came  there  the  next  year 
and  taught  school.''  She  refers,  also,  to  "a  Baptist  minis- 
ter, by  the  name  of  Elliott,  who  used  to  visit  them  often, 
and  who  used  to  travel  a  good  deal  with  her  father.  This, 
of  course,  was  William  Elliott.  From  Rochester  they 
removed  to  Fox  River,  and  lived  there  three  years,  where 
she  says:  '.'I  remember  his  baptizing  a  good  many  in  the 
Fox  River."  "After  I  was  nine  years  old  I  went  with  him 
a  great  deal.  I  remember  once  going  with  him  on  Sunday 
morning  to  fill  an  appointment  on  Fox  River,  after  a  very 
hard  rain.  AVe  had  to  cross  a  creek  called  Chequest.  He 
was  to  preach  just  on  the  other  side.  When  we  got  there 
the  stream  was  so  high  that  drift-wood  was  floating,  and 
the  people  were  on  the  shore  waiting  to  rell  my  father  not 
to  cross.  He  turned  to  me  and  asked  me  if  I  was  afraid. 
I  told  him  no,  and  so  I  stood  behind  him  on  the  horse  and 


84  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

held  his  saddle-bags,  in  which  he  carried  his  books,  and 
he  swam  the  horse  across  the  stream.  He  was  not  afraid 
of  anything  when  he  knew  he  was  doing  his  Master's 
bidding.'' 

It  seems  the  daughter  was  then  about  ten  jears  old. 
She  speaks  of  seeing  him  baptize  quite  a  number  in  this 
same  Chequest  Creek.  She  remembers  one  gentleman, 
about  seventy  years  old  ;  his  hair  as  white  as  snow,  among 
the  number  thus  baptized.  From  Fox  River  they  removed 
to  Edd3^ville  and  lived  one  year,  he  preaching  'twice  a 
month.  She  speaks  of  a  Baptist  minister  by  the  name  of 
Bond  who  staid  with  them;  he  and  his  family,  for  tliree 
months.  "We  went  from  Bddyville  to  Fairfield  and  staid 
there  two  years  ;  and  then  moved  to  Pella  in  1847  and 
settled  with  the  Hollanders." 

Mr.  Post  accompanied  the  pioneers  in  selecting  a  site 
for  the  colony  formed  there,  and  then  in  November  of  the 
same  year  moved  liis  family  there  to  live.  "And  while  he 
lived,"  the  daughter  continues,  "we  were  the  only  Ameri- 
can family  in  the  place."  He  had  a  stated  appointment 
to  preach  about  five  miles  from  Pella,  in  the  Noseman 
settlement.  "He  was  to  have  preached  there  on  Sunday, 
iVpril  2,  1848.  He  was  taken  sick  on  Saturday  morning  at 
2  o'clock  and  was  very  sick  all  day,  my  mother  and  my- 
self waiting  on  him  and  doing  all  we  could  for  him,  not 
having  a  doctor  that  understood  his  case.  On  Saturday 
night  at  9  o'clock  he  got  up  and  dressed  and  had  the 
barber  come  and  shave  him.  Then  he  called  me  to  him 
and  told  me  to  get  his  clothes  ready  and  have  the  hired 
man  get  the  buggy  ready  early  in  the  morning,  and  for 
me  to  get  ready  to  go  with  him,  for  he  would  start  at  eight 
o'clock,  so  as  to  get  there  and  have  two  hours  to  rest  before 
preaching.     But  the  next  morning  at  five  I  was  called  to 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  85 

his  bedside,  for  he  was  dyinoj;  and  at  2  p.  m.  his  Father 
called  him.  That  was  thirty-six  years  ago,  and  I  was  but 
thirteen  years  old ;  but  the  memory  of  that  death-bed  will 
never  be  forgotten.  It  is  as  fresh  in  my  memory  as  though 
it  had  been  yesterday.''  The  loving  daughter  begs  to  be 
excused  for  writing  so  much  of  herself,  saying,  "I  was 
with  him  so  much  that  I  could  not  write  of  him  without 
putting  myself  in  with  him." 

Just  what  we  want.  Would  that  many  others,  whose 
lives  were  intertwined  with  the  early  pioneers  of  Iowa,  so 
that  the  old  should  alwa^^s  remain  a  part  of  the  new,  would 
write  as  well  of  those  early  days. 

A  letter  has  been  received  from  a  brother  in  Roseville, 
111.,  which  will  serve  to  "point  a  moral."  It  has  reference 
to  a  reminiscence  mentioned  in  a  recent  sketch,  and  says: 
"The  Roseville  man  who  hauled  corn  under  such  discour- 
aging conditions  to  pay  a  ten  dollar  subscription  to  Rev. 
G.  J.  Johnson,  has  an  unsettled  account  with  him.''  It  ap- 
pears that  a  life-membership  in  the  Iowa  Baptist  Educa- 
tion Society  was  involved,  for  which  the  contributor  has 
never  received  his  certificate.  The  jnoral,  or  ratlier  prob- 
lem, is  how  to  maintain  a  life-membership  in  a  defunct 
Society.  The  Iowa  Baptist  Education  Society,  which  then 
did  such  noble  work,  has  long  since  ceased  to  exist.  And 
yet  the  brother's  contribution,  with  many  others  like  it,  is 
still  a  living  power  in  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his  Christ. 
Such  contributions  are  good  seed  multiplying  themselves 
many-fold  in  God's  own  blessed  way.  The  outward  sym- 
bol that  associates  your  name  with  a  given  act  or  inlluence 
may  be  wanting  or  lost,  but  the  inherent  seed-power  that 
lay  in  this  act  itself  can  never  die.  The  Society  to  which, 
as  we  suppose,  reference  is  made,  was  the  child  of  Iowa's 
very  early  years,  having  its  birth  as  early  as  1845  or  184(3. 


86  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

Though  long  since  dead  itself,  its  children  may  be  found, 
in  some  sense,  in  all  the  educational  institutions  and  inter- 
ests among  Baptists  in  Iowa,  and  among  the  Telugus,  and 
doubtless  in  many  other  places.  Its  constitution  was 
drafted  by  Rev.  J.  N.  Seele}^,  now  of  Clinton,  Iowa.  In 
1847  its  officers  were :  President,  Jos.  T.  Fales ;  Vice-Pres- 
ident, Rev.  R.  Cheedle ;  Recording  and  Corresponding 
Secretary,  Rev.  M.  J.  Post;  Treasurer,  Obed .  Stannard ; 
Managers,  Daniel  Jewett,  William  Elliott,  J.  N.  Seeley, 
William  Sperry,  L.  F.  Temple,  John  Besecker,  Otis  Thom- 
son. Caleb  Brooks,  James  Stewart  and  Calvin  Craven. 

As  these  sketches  grow,  man}'  of  these  earh'  names  are 
growing  to  be  more  and  more  like  household  words  Is  it 
not  well  that  so  it  be?  In  the  minutes  of  the  State  Conven- 
tion for  1847,  I  find  this  obituary  notice:  "Death  for  the 
first  time  since  the  organization  of  this  body,  has,  in  the 
inscrutable  providence  of  God,  been  premittecl  to  enter  our 
executive  department,  calling  from  our  counsels  and  mut- 
ual responsibilities  one  of  our  most  valued  and  cherished 
members.  Rev.  P.  Robinson,  of  Marion,  who  departed  this 
life  September  last.  In  his  death  we  sustain  an  irre- 
parable loss.  Amiable,  discreet,  devout  and  indefatigable, 
may  his  mantle  rest  upon  us.  Blessed  dead!  'He  rests 
from  his  labors,  and  his  works  do  follow  him.'" 

We  find  here  also  another  illustration  of  how  cherished 
names,  with  which  we  have  become  familiar  in  after  years, 
flash  upon  us  in  unexpected  places.  At  the  sixth  anniver- 
sary of  the  Iowa  Baptist  State  Convention,  held  at  Farming- 
ton,  in  1847:  "Rev.  CI.  S.  Bailey  appeared  as  a  delegate 
from  the  lUinoi*  General  Association."'  Many  years  later 
he  becomes  an  active  pastor  in  Iowa. 


CH/oPTER  XII. 


Missionary   Remixiscences^Jennie    L.   Peck — Deacon 

Bryson — Music  in  the  Soul — Revivals. 

Salem  —  Meciianicsville. 

|N  the  present  chapter  we  shall  continue  per- 
sonal reminiscences,  of  a  like  kind  with  some 
wliich  have  gone  before.  We  seek  to  select 
such  as  illustrate  God's  gracious  dealings 
witli  his  childien  in  the  promotion  of  his 
Kingdom. 

In  1868  the  writer,  as  General  Missionary,  was  making 
a  few  periodic  visits  to  the  Little  Church  in  Brooklyn, 
Powesheik  county,  Iowa.  In  one  of  these  visits  liis  atten- 
tion was  directed  to  a  family  that  had  recently  moved  into 
the  village.  Tiiere  were  six  in  the  family,  all  to  be 
received  into  the  Little  Church.  They  had  been  living  on 
the  prairie  frontier,  in  Tama,  or  Grund}^  county.  On  our 
first  visit  to  the  liome,  one  daughter  was  unable  to  leave 
her  bed,  by  reason  of  a  painful  and  protracted  sickness. 
Although  in  much  affliction,  and  surrounded  by  circum- 
stances most  depressing,  her  Christian  cheerfulness  was  a 
joy  to  behold.  It  made  her  sick-room  more  like  a  home  of 
cheer  than  a  place  of  pain.  It  was  our  privilege  to  extend 
the  hand  of  fellowship,  in  a  short  time,  to  this  family  of 
six,  who  had  all  been  baptized  before. 


88  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

A  few  months  later,  raised  from  her  bed  of  pain,  but 
with  a  chronic  lameness  that  rendered  her  unable  for  many 
months  to  walk  without  crutches,  this  sister  was  engaged, 
unaided,  in  conducting  a  Sabbath  School  in  one  of  the 
most  destitute  neighborhoods  in  the  surrounding  country. 
Unaided  by  human  hands,  but  it  was  evident  that  the 
Friend  of  Sinners  was  with  her  in  her  noble  endeavor. 
Her  heart  was  poured  out  in  behalf  of  the  destitute,  and 
needy  ones.  She  prayed,  she  taught,  she  wrote  letters.  A 
willing  brother  would  drive  her  in  his  buggy  to  the  school 
house  door,  and  so  the  work  went  on. 

Some  friends  in  the  east,  becoming  interested  by  her 
letters,  donated  an  organ,  others  gave  books  and  papers. 
What  the  final  results  of  those  efforts  in  that  country 
school  district  were,  eternity  only,  will  .perhaps,  reveal. 
But  the  Divine  purpose  soon  began  to  ripen.  That 
young  Christian  lady  was  Jennie  L.  Peck.  From  that 
lieart-trying  labor  in  the  country  school  house,  she  is  soon 
l)romoted  to  other  fields.  In  Grinnell,  and  in  Oskaloosa, 
she  is  an  active  City  Missionary.  Though  still  a  cripple, 
and  traversing  the  busy  city  on  crutches,  she  is  received 
with  cordiality,  and  her  earnest  Christian  spirit  touches 
man}'-  hearts.  The  Lord,  in  d^ue  time,  healed  her  lameness 
and  gave  health,  and  her  later,  and  present  connection  with 
the  AVomen's  Home  Mission  Society,  as  one  of  their  most 
efficient  missionaries,  needs  no  record  here.  But  these 
recollections  are  wort!iy  of  a  place  in  these  Sketches  as  a 
memorial  of  the  way  in  which  the  Lord  often  chooses 
and  prepares  his  instrumentalities,  and  how  "out  of  weak- 
ness" his  willing  ones  are  "made  strong.'' 

Another  reminiscence,  of  a  different  kind,  the  writer  has 
often  thought  of  putting  into  print,  and  has  frequently  been 
told   that  he  ought  so  to  do.     It  will  find  a  suitable  place 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  89 

here.  In  the  Church  at  Bonaparte  lived  a  most  cheerful 
and  exemplary  Christian,  Deacon  Bryson.  He  had  raised 
a  large  family,  and  taught  them  in  the  ways  of  the  Lord. 
He  Avas  very  fond  of  singing  the  songs  of  Zion  ;  for  he  had 
music  in  his  soul.  In  his  later  years  this  brother  became 
blind.  Gradually,  for  two  or  three  years,  his  eye-sight 
went  out,  till  he  was  left  in  almost  total  darkness.  During 
these  years  it  was  our  privilege,  in  the  annual  missionary 
visit  to  his  Church,  to  be  entertained  in  his  hospitable 
home.  The  Deacon's  spiritual  vision  was  never  dimmed. 
After  his  blindness  had  become  almost  total,  the  wife 
of  his  youth  and  age,  sickened  and  died.  She  had  been 
his  constant  companion ;  ever  sitting  at  his  side  in  the 
gathering  gloom  ready  to  render  every  needed  care  and 
comfort.  At  her  loss  his  sorrow  was  overwhelming.  In  a 
visit,  a  short  time  after  her  death,  he  related  this  incident. 
He  was  sitting  one  day  in  his  accustomed  place,  his  head 
bowed  upon  his  hands  in  the  abstraction  of  an  overwhelm- 
ing grief,  hardly  conscious  of  passing  events.  The  spirit 
of  song  seemed  to  come  like  a  soothing  Angel  into  his  soul, 
and  he  began,  in  an  under-tone  to  sing : 

"Must  Jesus  bear  the  cross  alone 
And  all  the  world  go  free  ■i' 
Xo.  there's  a  cross  for  every  one, 
And  there's  a  cross  for  me." 

He  said  it  seemed  there  was  a  complete  response  in  his 
own  soul  to  those  words  of  the  poet.  They  seemed  exact- 
ly to  voice  his  present  experience,  and  he  would  try 
cheerfully  to  bear  his  cross  of  bereavement,  heavy  as  it 
was.  His  mind  then  passed  to  the  second  verse  as  he  had 
been  accustomed  to  sing  it: 

••  How  happy  are  the  saints  above, 
Who  once  went  sorrowing  here  ; 
But  now  they  taste  unmingled  love 
And  joy  without  a  tear.  " 


90  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

This  too,  lie  said,  completely  voiced  what  was  in  his 

own  soul,  and  he  could  think  with  comfort  of  that  one  who 

had  so  recently  joined  the  happy  throng.     But  now,  he 

said,  as  he   passed   on   in  thought  to   the    next  verse  of 

the  hymn,  there  was  something  lacking:  something  in  his 

present  soul-experience  that  the  Hymn  did  not  voice.     As 

he  sat  in  deep  thought,  in  mingled  sorrow  and  comfort, 

scarcely  conscious  of  what  was  passing  in  his  mind,  only 

that  there  was  something  wanting  in  the  poet's  familiar 

lines  to  fit  them  exactly  to  his  present  need.     Some  one  of 

the  family  spoke  to  him  and   aroused  him  just   enough 

from  his  abstraction  to  say,  "Wait  till  I  finish  my  stanza." 

Then  these   lines  took  shape  in   his  mind,  and  he  broke 

out  in  audible  tones,  "Now  I  have  it!"  and  sung: 

"Tliis  is  the  coiisecriited  spot. 
Where  side  by  side  sat  we, 
Till  she  went  home  to  wear  the  crown. 
And  left  the  cross  for  me.  " 

Then  followed : 

"The  consecrated  cross  I'll  bear. 
Till  death  shall  set  me  free, 
And  then  go  home  my  crown  to  wear. 
For  there's  a  crown  for  me.  '' 

Read  the  four  stanzas  together  and  see  how,  in  the 
given  experience,  they  voice  just  what  the  pious  soul 
would  wish  to  sing.  As  we  sat  by  the  side  of  the  sorrower, 
in  the  same  "consecrated  spot,"  and  sang  with  him  these 
four  verses, — for  it  was  a  part  of  the  song  for  liim  ever 
after — we  thought  what  a  blessing  is  the  Spirit  of  Chris- 
tian poesy.  We  have  never  sung,  nor  heard  tliat  sweet 
song  since,  without  a  vivid  recollection  of  the  scene  just 
described.  Good  Deacon  Bryspn  has  long  since  joined  the 
happy  company  of  "saints  above  who  once  went  sorrowing 
here."  Doubtless  there  are  many  readers  of  these  sketches 
who  will  remember  his  cheerful  songs  and  services. 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  91 

The  writer  may  be  permitted  to  mention  to  the  praise  of 
God,  in  this  connection,  one  or  two  instances  of  revival 
work  that"  remain  as  green  spots  in  the  memory,  and 
may  suggest  lessons  of  useful  import. 

The  little  Church  at  Salem,  Iowa,  was  constituted  in 
1866.  The  active  work  of  the  Church,  if  we  remember 
rightly,  was,  for  the  first  year  or  two,  out  of  town,  and  the 
few  baptisms  administered  had  been  some  distance  from 
Salem,  so  that  the  people  of  that  town  had  never  seen  an 
immersion.  An  intelligent  little  Baptist  nucleus  in  the 
village  were  worshiping  with  the  Congregationalist  people. 
The  domestic  and  social  relations  of  the  two  societies  were 
very  intimate,  parts  of  families  being  of  the  one  connection 
and  parts  of  the  other.  Our  Baptist  friends,  however,  true 
to  their  convictions,  felt  that  something  ouglit  to  be  done 
for  the  establishment  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  the  village. 
Early  in  1868  arrangements  were  made  with  the  writer, 
then  engaged  as  General  Missionary  in  the  State,  to  hold  a 
series  of  meetings  with  that  special  view^ 

The  Congregational  Meeting  House  was  engaged  for  this 
purpose,  a  small  brick  school  house  purchased  by  the  Bap- 
tists and  work  begun,  simultaneously  with  the  beginning 
of  the  meeting,  to  fit  it  up  with  seats,  baptistery,  etc.,  for  a 
Church  home.  The  Congregationalist  pastor  tried  at  first 
to  thwart  the  meeting,  saying  he  thought  that  this  was 
not  the  kind  of  work  needed  now  in  the  village,4)ut  when 
he  found  that  the  meeting  would  go  on,  consented  to  the 
use  of  their  house,  while  fitting  up  one  of  our  own,  it  was 
very  evident  hoping,  for  some  time,  that  the  work  would 
yet  be  given  up  or  indefinitely  delayed. 

A  special  efl'ort  was  made  the  Sunday  before  our  meet- 
ing begun,  and  all  who  could  be  persuaded  to  do  so,  united 
with  the  Congregational  Chuch.     Among  the  number  was  a 


92  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

very  intelligent  young  lady,  wlio  had  been  converted  several 
months  before,  and  who  was  a  firm  Baptist  in  principle. 
She  had  planned  once  or  twice  to  go  to  Mt.  Pleasant,  the 
nearest  Baptist  Church,  relate  her  experience  and  receive 
baptism.  She  was  very  sensitive  about  her  influence  over 
other  young  people,  and  the  pastor  taking  advantage  of 
this,  and  persuading  her  that  her  position  outside  of  the 
Church'might  hinder  the  salvation  of  some  soul,  and  she, 
not  knowing  of  the  contemplated  Baptist  effort,  yielded 
under  protest,  and  was  sprinkled  and  united  with  the  Con- 
gregational Church. 

The  pastor  had  also  preached  a  sermon  on  amusements, 
in  wliich  he  evidently  tacitly  encouraged  dancing  and  simi- 
lar amusements  by  church  members.  He  had  also  urged 
an  irreligous  young  man  who  made  no  pretensions  what- 
ever to  a  religious  life,  to  join  the  Church,  using  as  an  ar- 
gument, the  influence  he  would  have  over  a  certain  young 
lad}^  to  induce  her  also  to  join. 

These  particulars  of  the  conditions  under  wliich  our 
meetings  began,  will  serve  to  magnify  that  Divine  favor 
which  made  the  meeting  a  success.  The  interest  grew 
from  the  beginning.  Such  an  impression  was  made  upon 
the  people  as,  it  was  said,  Salem  had  never  witnessed-  The 
work'  of  course  was  limited,  for  the  means  were  circum- 
scribed, but  the  mighty  power  of  the  Spirit  within  the  com- 
pass reached,  has  been  seldom  equaled  within  our  know- 
ledge. 

The  little  house  being  prepared  for  a  Church  home  was 
entered  the  third  week  of  the  meeting.  Twelve  were  bap- 
tised during  the  meeting^among  them  the  young  lady  who 
had  entered  the  Congregational  Church  under  protest,  and 
her  sister.  A  larger  and  better  house  was  afterwards  built 
and  the  Church  has  maintained  its  visibility  ever  since. 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  93 

For  much  of  the  time  Brother  Lee,  one  of  the  veterans  of 
the  Keokuk  Association,  has  been  its  pastor. 

Another  reminiscence  of  a  revival.  One  of  the  Lord's 
revivals,  beginning  in  the  day  of  small  things,  will,  like 
the  foregoing,  be  chiefly  of  interest  to  those  who  may  thus 
recall  the  goodness  of  God,  from  the  recollection  of  a  per- 
sonal participation  in  its  blessings,    > 

It  is  hoped  that  these  Sketches  may  be  useful  in  thus 
awakening  sanctified  recollections.  Good  Oliver  Haywood, 
writing  over  two  centuries  ago  of  Heart  Treasures,  men- 
tioned among  other  sources  of  heart  treasure  "  The  recol- 
lection of  lively  religious  exercises  and  experiences. "  So 
we  would  make  these  Sketches  as  they  voice  these  recol- 
lections, sources  of  heart  treasure. 

In  the  winter  of  1875,  in  the  midst  of  one  of  the  notable 
periods  of  snow  blockades,  the  writer,  who  was  at  that 
time  engaged  in  an  Educational  Agency,  reached  the  vil- 
lage of  Mechanicsville  late  in  the  week,  and  arranged  to 
stay  over  Sabbath.  A  very  feeble  Church  was  then,  and 
had  been  for  some  time,  without  a  pastor.  A  Sabbath 
School  of  about  twenty  or  twenty-five  had  been  kept  up, 
but  a  little  while  before  the  question  of  suspending  it  had 
been  seriously  considered.  Two  or  three  earnest  souls  had 
felt  that  the  work  could  not  be  given  up.  A  cheap  organ 
had  been  bought;  one  sister  could  play  the  organ  and  an- 
other could  sing,  and  by  these^means  the  school  had  been 
kept  alive. 

When  the  writer  arrived  at  the  home  of  good  Sister 
Cook,  he  was  greeted  with  the  earnest  exclamation,  "The 
Lord  hath  sent  you  !  We've  been  praying  that  somebody 
might  come  along !''  We  stayed  over  the  Sabbath.  Con- 
gregation small,  weather  intensely  cold,  roads  blocked.  A 
more  unlikely  time  to  begin  a  meeting — and  more  unlikely 


94  HISTOEICAL    SKETCHES. 

surroundings  could  scarcely  be  imagined — with  this  one 
exception,  that  the  "  Lord  was  in  the  place ''  though  we 
"knew  it  not.  "  From  the  very  first  it  was  a  Betliel.  We 
had  not  had  the  slightest  thought  of  a  protracted  meeting. 
The  suggestion  would  have  seemed  preposterous.  But  be- 
fore that  Sunday  was  over  six  of  those  Sunday  School 
scholars  had  arisen  for  praj'ers.  To  have  left  would  have 
been  to  defy  God,  to  have  despised  the  Holy  Spirit.  It 
was  one  of  God's  revivals.  It  went  on  in  spite  of  storm  or 
any  other  obstacle  for  four  w^eeks.  Twelve  were  baptized 
as  a  result,  ranging  in  age  from  seven  to  seventy;  three 
generations  in  one  family.  The  Church  was  placed  upon 
its  feet,  in  a  year  or  two  a  good  brick  church  edifice  was 
built,  and  most  of  the  time  since  they  have  enjoyed  the 
stated  ministrations  of  the  Word. 

It  was  not  a  great  W'Ork  as  the  word  goes,  but  it  was 
great  in  its  littleness  !  It  was  valuable  as  an  experience 
because  of  the  certainty  that  God  had  planned  it.  Oh ! 
for  an  increase  of  this  kind  of  revivals  that  His  servants 
dare  not  claim  the  credit  of,  and  dare  not  run  awa}^  from. 

The  history  of  Iowa  Baptists  for  the  half  century  cov- 
ered, would  furnish  volumes  of  proof  that  God  is  in  the 
midst  of  his  people,  working  as  none  but  he  can  work  for 
the  redemption  of  men. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


Reminiscences  of  Dextek  P.  Smith,  D.   D.— Counting 

THE  Cost— Sickness  and  Death — A  Pekilous 

Ride — "One  Taken   and   Another 

Left" — A  Child's  Pkayee. 

|N  this  chapter  we  will  give  some  personal  rem- 
iniscences from  the  pen  of  our  dear  Brother, 
Dexter  P.  Smith,  D.  D.,  now  of  Santa  Anna, 
California.  He  introduces  the  subject  by  say- 
ing, "Personal  reminiscences  are  solicited, 
which  necessitates  a  little  seeming  egotism. ''  It  is  true  that 
the  personal  element  in  a  narrative  is  that  which  gives  it 
its  chief  interest,  and  this  in  a  self- conceited  person  will 
easily  develop  into  egotism,  but  no  one  who  ever  knew 
Brother  Smith  will  ever  think  of  egotism  in  his  personal 
narrative.  He  says :  "In  May,  1845,  under  appointment  of 
the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society,  I  commenced 
work  in  the  Davenport  Association,  at  Iowa  City.  Iowa 
City  was  then  the  capital  of  the  territory.  The  general 
government  had  erected  a  very  fine  building,  in  which  the 
Legislature  was  then  holding  its  first  session.  By  request, 
and  permission  of  the  honorable  legislators,  I  preached  my 
first,  and  many  subsequent  sermons  in  thecapitol  building. 
Iowa   City,   strange  as  it  may  now    seem,   was   then   the 


96  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

extreme  western  Baptist  mission  outpost.  There  was  no 
church  or  mission  station  between  Iowa  City  and  the  Rocky 
Mountains  or  tlie  Pacific  coast.  Moreover,  at  tbat  time, 
the  Davenport  Association  embraced  all  the  Baptist  inter- 
ests in  Northern  Iowa  and  Minnesota.  The  early  occupan- 
cy of  this  field  required  large  faith.  In  response  to 
repeated  and  underscored  Macedonian  appeals,  in  1846, 
other  good  men  were  commissioned  and  sent  out  to  supple- 
ment the  little  band  of  workers.  One  of  their  number,  a 
noble  young  man,  a  fine  preacher,  a  graduate  of  one  of  our 
best  eastern  universities,  called  on  me  at  Iowa  City,  for 
advice  in  the  choice  of  a  field.  I  took  him  in  my  buggv  to 
the  annual  meeting  of  the  Davenport  Association  at  Du- 
buque. The  Dubuque  Church  was  without  a  pastor,  and 
very  anxious  to  settle  one.  But  our  young  brother  under 
appointment  from  the  East,  after  surveying  the  Iowa  field 
in  its  length  and  breadth  and  destitution,  not  only  declined 
the  call  of  Dubuque,  but,  strange  as  as  it  may  now  seem, 
resolved  to  abandon  this  western  field  and  return  east. 
Aye,  more,  advised  me  to  do  the  same,  saying,  "you  are 
here  enduring  many  hardships,  practicing  much  self-deni- 
al— 3^our  sick  family  suft'ering  for  the  comforts  of  life, 
while  in  the  east  you  can  command  a  good  salary,  enabling 
you  to  enjoy  the  comforts,  and  even  the  luxuries  of  life. 
And  moreover, '"  he  continued,  "in  my  opinion,  there  never 
will  be  a  population  in  Iowa,  in  your  day,  sufficient  to 
Justify  the  sacrifice  of  your  life  here.''  With  such  impres- 
sions he  returned  to  his  eastern  home.  In  response  how- 
ever, to  his  logic  and  advice,  I  assured  him  that  when  we 
accepted  our  appointment  to  this  field,  we  endeavored  to 
count  the  cost.  That  we  had  come  here,  prepared  to  sacri- 
fice everything,  not  excepting  life  itself ;^ — and  having  put 
our  hand  to  the  plow  could  not  look  back,  never,  no  never! 
And  yet,  there  were  paragraphs  and  chapters  in  the  early 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  97 

history  of  Iowa  Baptists,  which  seemed  in  liariiiony  with 
the  prediction  of  our  retiring  friend  and  brother.  At  that 
time,  the  membersliip  of  the  Iowa  Baptist  State  Conven- 
tion did  not  equal  the  membership  of  a  single  Church  in 
some  of  the  older  states.  Not  a  Church  able  to  give  its 
pastor  a  support.  Davenport.  Dubuque,  and  a  majority  of 
the  Cliurches  loithout  pastors,  all  combining  to  underscore 
the  inquiry,  "  by  whom  sliall  Jacob  arise:!  for  he  is  small." 
While  returning  from  that  meeting  at  Dubuque,  I  was  met 
by  a  messenger  from  Iowa  City,  who  startled  me  with  the 
announcement,  "  Your  little  bo}^  is  dead  I  and  your  wife  dy- 
ing I  "  It  required  strong  faitii  withouta  murmur,  to  respond, 
"The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  tal^en  away;  and 
blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord.  "  And.  although  the  pre- 
cious life  of  my  wife  was  graciously  spared,  yet,  under  the 
circumstances,  and  while  under  the  cloud,  it  required  no 
small  faith  in  my  next  report  to  the  Board  in  New  York, 
to  voice  the  minority  of  the  Commission,  sent  to  survey  the 
land  of  Canaan,  and  report  prospects,  "The  land  is  an  ex- 
ceeding good  land  ;  let  us  go  up  at  once  and  possess  it,  for 
(in  God's  name)  we  are  able  to  overcome  it.'"  In  that  dark 
place  and  hour  I  find  wi-itten  in  my  memorandum  "JEHO- 
VAH JIRAH.  "  As  in  contrast  with  1845,  I  consider  our 
Iowa  Zion  of  1885,  her  bulwarks  and  towers  of  strength,* 
her  auxiliaries  of  efficiency,  count  her  multiplied  and  mul- 
tiplying Churches,  with  a  membership  of  20,000,  led  on  by 
men  wliose  practical  faith  comprehends  not  only  this  com- 
monwealth, but  the  world  for  Christ,  inspired  by  the  review 
I  underscore  the  triumphant  acclaim,  "What  hath  God 
wrought !  "  and  call  upon  my  soul  and  all  within,  around, 
ABOVE  me  to  bless  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  magnif}^ 
his  rich  and  abounding  grace.  " 

Dexter  P.  Smith. 
Santa  Anna,  California,  June  5th,  1885. 


98  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

111  another  cominunication,  after  speaking  of  the  death 
of  such  men  as  Robinson,  Post,  and  Braybrook,  noticed  in 
these  Sketches,  Brother  Smith  says :  "With  the  harvest  so 
abundant,  deepenins;  and  widening  and  waving  on  every 
hand,  the  removal  of  such  workers  sorely  tried  the  faith  of 
the  few  upon  whom  devolved  double  responsibility,  and 
augmented  work.  An  unvarnished  record  of  the  early 
Board  meetings  of  the  Convention,  would  involve  items 
more  stirring  than  fiction  ;  the  personal  exposure  and  sac- 
rifice of  the  members  of  the  Board,  the  long  distances  trav- 
eled,— long  because  of  the  modes  of  travel — facilitated  by 
no  railroads  with  costly  upholstered  coaches.  A  worthy 
pastor  having  been  requested  to  accept  an  appointment, 
to  visit  some  corresponding  body,  did  not  positively  decline, 
but  said,  "I  have  no  way  to  go  but  to  walk  or  ride  an  ox." 
The  long  anxious  night  sessions,  often  extended  into  the 
small  hours  of  the  morning,  in  the  careful  consideration  of 
the  situation,  precipitated  by  an  exhausted  treasury ;  not 
because  any  diplomacy  could  replenish  it,  but  because  there 
was  demanded  a  prayerful  impartial  discrimination  in 
granting  applications,  even  necessitating  the  postponement 
oi  urgent,  afrvcting  appeals  irom  struggling  interests  in 
county  seats  and  other  important  locations — interests  whose 
•very  existence  seemed  to  depend  upon  immediate  encourage- 
ment ;  all  of  which  can  only  be  appreciated  by  the  actors  in 
those  scenes,  the  participators  in  those  gratuitous  services." 

To  those  of  us  who  knew  Brother  Smith  twenty-five 
years  ago,  with  his  frail  body,  delicate  health  and  low  vi- 
tality, the  following  incident  seems  little  less  than  a  mira- 
cle of  preservation,  as  well  as  a  marvelous  instance  of 
human  courage  and  endurance.  In  1860  or  'Ol,  while  act- 
ing as  Financial  Agent  of  the  Convention,  he  started  from 
Iowa  City  on  horseback  to  attend  a  Board  meeting  of  the 
Convention    at  Dubuque.      "With    the   mercurj^   ranging 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  99 

fearfull}^  low  and  still  sinking,"  he  reached  and  passed  the 
night  at  Anamosa.  ''The  next  morning  ushered  in  one  of 
those  terrible  blizzards  during  which  so  many  early  resi- 
dents perished.  One,"  he  says,  "  of  the  most  bitter  days  of 
my  experience. ''  Kind  friends  urged  him  not  to  start ; 
but  to  delay  was  not  to  be  on  time  at  Dubucjue.  "So  I 
ventured  out  with  the  wind  directly  in  my  face,  and  so  very 
sharp  that  I  was  obliged  frequently  to  wheel  my  horse  in 
order  to  breathe. ''  He  called  at  a  house  and  procured  a 
veil  and  tied  it  over  his  cap  and  face.  His  breath  soon 
iced  over  the  veil,  which  afforded  a  partial  protection. 
Being  obliged  occasionally  to  dismount  and  walk  to  pre- 
vent freezing,  he  found  this  attended  with  no  little  hazard, 
for  becoming  exhausted  he  could  with  difficulty  regain  his 
seat  in  the  saddle.  Here  we  quote  his  own  words.  "Dur- 
ing tliat  forenoon  I  passed  over  what  was  known  by  early 
residents  as  'Bowen's  Prairie',  a  notoriously  bleak,  exposed, 
uninhabited  section.  After  zigzagging  my  wa}^,  as  best  I 
could,  some  ten  ijiiles  without  seeing  a  house,  sometimes 
losing  m}^  track,  I  happened,  or  rather  providentially  came 
upon  a  cabin,  then  the  only  dwelling  where  now  stands 
the  flourishing  village  of  Monticello.  A  stranger  opened 
the  door,  and  kindly,  but  with  language  which  involved  a 
merited  rebuke,  said,  'Get  oft' and  come  in  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible ;  you  have  no  business  to  be  out  on  such  a  day  as 
this,'' continuing,  "I  will  take  care  of  your  horse."  The 
good  man  rushed  me  into  the  house,  but  froze  himself 
while  caring  for  my  horse.  Warmed  and  refreshed,  but 
with  no  abatement  of  the  storm,  and  against  the  protest  of 
the  kind  family,  I  started  out  again,  reaching  Cascade  that 
night.  The  next  morning  a  man  was  frozen  to  death, 
wrapped  in  his  winding  sheet  of  snow,  on  the  same  track 
over  which  I  had  traveled.  "  "One  had  been  taken  and  the 
other  left.  "     Reaching  Dubuque  next  day  in  time  for  the 


100  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

Board  meeting,  although  but  few  of  the  members  were  able 
to  be  present,  nevertheless  legitimate  business  was  trans- 
acted, and  the  agent  says,  "  Doubtless  many  from  the  pres- 
ent standpoint,  unable  to  comprehend  the  situation  of  those 
trying  times,  would  denounce  such  a  trip,  involving  such  a 
tax  upon  vitality,  as  unjustifiable  and  foolish  in  the  ex- 
treme. We  only  say  in  reply,  "there  was  inexpressible 
satisfaction  to  know  that  provision  was  made  immediately 
to  pay  tlie  accrued  claims  of  our  faitliful,  earnest  mission- 
aries, forestalling  embarrassment  and  suffering."  "Rev.  T. 
S.  Griffith  was  then  the  worthy  pastor  at  Dubuque.  I 
shall  never  forget  the  kind  attention  received  at  his  hospi- 
table home.  His  little  boy  of  tender  years,  listened  with 
great  interest  to  the  free  discussion  of  our  mission  work ; 
his  little  heart  throbbed  with  anxious  sympathy  for  ex- 
posed workers.  His  father  told  me  that  ever  after,  the 
nightly  prayer  of  his  little  boy  closed  with  '  O  Lord,  bless 
Brother  Smith,  Amen,' — a  guiding  inspiration  in  subse- 
quent emergencies,  for  the  little  ones  are  the  favorites  of 
the  Master.  "  "There  are  unwritten  paragraphs  and  chap- 
ters in  the  early  experiences  of  Iowa  Baptists,  forgotten  or 
modestly  suppressed,  which  will  never  be  revealed  until 
the  final  review ;  and  even  then,  not  to  complain  of  any- 
thing endured,  nor  to  boast  of  anj^thing  done,  but  to  mag- 
nif}^  the  abounding  grace,  and  underscore  the  united 
acclaim,  "  Not  unto  us,  O  Lord,  not  unto  us,  but  unto  thy 
name  give  glory.'" 

The  above  communication  was  written  on  our  Brother's 
seventy-fourth  birthday,  December  Kith,  1884. 


jtik. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


The  Df:s  MoijSTEs  Associations^ — 1839—1859. 
Great  Prosperity. 


|HE  present  and  subsequent  chapters  will  be 
devoted  to  a  sort  of  bird's-eye  view,  of  the 
growth  of  the  different  Associations  in  Iowa, 
so  as  to  show,. 1st,  the  growth  of  each  con- 
sidered in  and  of  itself,  and  2d,  the  growth 
of  each  as  related  to  the  growth  of  the 
denomination  at  large  in  the  State.  The  present  chapter 
will  have  to  do  with  the  first  of  all  the  Associations,  the 
old  Des  Moines.  We  shall  endeavor  lo  sketch  its  history 
from  the  time  of  its  organization  in  1839,  down  to  the  time 
ir,  was  disbanded,  and  the  Churches  composing  it,  by 
mutual  agreement,  were  organized  into  the  Keokuk  and 
Burlington  Associations.  The  account  of  the  organization 
of  this  Association  in  August,  1839,  at  Long  Creek — now 
Danville — was  given  in  the  beginning  of  these  Sketches. 
The  Churches  composing  it  were  three,  Long  Creek,  Pisgah 
and  Rock  Spring.  There  were  about  80  members  in  the 
three  Churches.  The  first  Moderator  was  Rev.  Jonah 
Todd,  Clerk,  Rev.  Alexander  Evans,  Preacher  of  Introduc- 
tory Sermon,  Rev.  Hezekiah  Johnson.  The  name  of  the 
Association   at   first  was   the   Iowa    Baptist    Association. 


102  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

The  data  for  its  history  and  its  meetings  for  the  first  five 
years  are  very  meagre.  It  appears  that  annual  meetings 
were  held  in  1840  at  Rock  Spring,  1841  at  Danville,  1842 
at  Rochester  Church,  near  Keosauqua,  in  1843  at  Portland 
Church,  and  in  1844  at  Danville  again.  For  these  years 
we  have  no  means  of  knowing  who  were  the  officers,  nor 
an}^  statistics. 

At  the  second  meeting  of  the  Iowa  Baptist  State  Con- 
vention, held  in  Davenport  in  1848,  this  Association  was 
represented  by  Elders  A.  Evans,  H.  Johnson,  D.  Jewett, 
and  M.  J.  Post.  There  were  then  reported  ten  Churches, 
six  ministers,  43  persons  baptized  during  the  yeav  and  223 
members.  The  name  of  the  Association  was  changed  to 
Des  Moines,  either  that  or  the  next  year.  The  ten  Churches 
and  the  dates  of  their  organization,  were,  as  near  as  we 
can  ascertain,  Danville,  1834 ;  Rock  Spring,  1836 ;  Pisgah, 
1839  ;  Union,  1839  ;  Farmington,  1841 ;  Washington,  1841 ; 
Mt.  Zion,  1842 ;  Mount  Pleasant,  18i3 ;  Keosauqua,  1638, 
and  possibly  Fox  River,  1842.  The  ministers,  in  addition 
to  those  mentioned  above,  were  Wm.  Elliott  and  H.  Bur- 
nett.    The  latter  arrived  in  the  territory  in  1842. 

,  o  /I  /I  Number  of  Churches,  14,  ordained  ministers,  8, 
i  o44t 

baptized,  100;  whole  number,  361. 

The  Association  met  with  the  Ebenezer  Church,  Lee 
county.  The  introductory  sermon  was  preached  by  Elder 
1  RzLR  ^^'  *^*  P^s^'  ^^^^^  ^^^  elected  Moderator  and  Broth- 
er Otis  Thompson,  of  the  Farmington  Cliurch, 
Clerk.  Among  the  ordained  ministers  are  found  Wm. 
Sperry  and  R,  Cheedle.  The  Rock  Spring  Church  seems 
to  have  previously  lost  its  connection  with  the  Association 
and,  on  application,  is  received  again  with  14  baptisms 
and  18  received  by  letter;  members,  56. 

Brother  S.  Pickard  appears  as  a  Licentiate  of  the  Lib- 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  103 

erty  Cliurcli,  also  received  this  year  with  27  members. 
New  Churches  were  also  received,  viz:  Shiloh,  8  members; 
Oskaloosa,  20;  Village  Creek,  8;  Toolsborough,  8;  Edd}^- 
ville.  7,  and  Fairfield,  22.  Whole  number  of  Churches,  25; 
baptisms,  11;  members,  656. 

Met    at    Round  Point,    September  4.     The  preacher  of 
the  introductory  sermon,  Elder  Sperry,  being  absent,  Elder 
Q  Hiram  Burnett  preached  and  was  chosen  Modera- 

tor, W.  B.  Morey,  Clerk,  Daniel  Jewett,  Secretary. 
Delegates  from  the  Davenport  Association  Rev.  Dexter  P. 
Smith  and  J.  N.  Seeley.  The  Tabernacle,  Mount  Moriah 
and  Ft.  Des  Moines  Churches  were  received.  The  name  of 
the  Oskaloosa  Church  has  been  changed  to  Union.  Elders 
Shaply  Elmore,  J.  Moore,  J.  Bond,  B.  B.  Nichols  and  H. 
Worden  are  among  the  ministers  not  named  above.  Num- 
ber of  Churches  reporting,  24;  pastors,  11;  baptisms,  71; 
total  membership,  563. 

"Elder  John  Rexford,  from  the  Free  Communion  Bap- 
tist Church,  stated  that  he  had  embraced  our  sentiments, 
and  enquired  wliether  his  ordination  would  be  accepted 
b}^  this  body."  After  reading  his  certificate  and  some  dis- 
cussion, the  Association  voted  satisfaction  and  invited, 
him  to  a  seat  with  the  body.  A  request  came  up  from  the 
Eddj'ville  and  Tabernacle  Churches  for  the  ordination  of 
Brother  G.  W.  Bond,  but  after  examination  it  was  deemed 
inexpedient  at  present,  and  the  Churches  "advised  to  aid 
our  brother  in  the  support  of  his  family,  that  thereb}^  he 
may  be  enabled  to  study  to  show  himself  a  woi'kman  that 
needeth  not  to  be  ashamed." 

There  is  evidence  of  an  intelligent  (lonservatism  in  such 
matters  in  those  early  days,  tliat  it  would  have  been 
well  in  some  quarters  to  have  emulated  later. 

The   place  of  meeting  in  1847  was    Mt.  Zion.     William 


104  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Elliott  had  been  appointed  to  preach  the  introductory 
sermon.  No  record  of  this  meeting  nor  statistics  of  the 
year  have  been  found. 

The  Association  met  in  its  tenth  session  with  the  church 
at  Washington,  Iowa.  Rev.  Horace  Warden  preached 
RAR  ^^^  introductory  sermon  from  Titus,  1st  chaptei-, 
3d  verse.  Rev.  R.  Cheedle  was  elected  Moder- 
ator, and  Rev.  W  .B.  Knapp,  Clerk.  There  are  now  21 
churches,  104  baptisms  reported  and  717  members.  Rev. 
James  M.  Hope  of  Keokuk,  appears  among  the  ministers. 
The  name  of  the  Keokuk  church  appears  with  13  members. 
A  year  earlier,  in  1847,  Keokuk  was  represented  in  the 
State  Convention  l)y  Rev.  J.  W.  Seely. 

The  tjuestion  of  a  division  of  the  Association,  already 
began  to  be  discussed.  The  death  of  the  late  beloved  M. 
J.  Post,  was  reported  and  the  Association  most  painfully 
mourn  his  loss.  Near  the  close  of  1848,  began  a  work  at 
Burlington,  which  claims  more  extended  notice.  The 
beginnings  of  Baptist  seed-sowing  here  date  still  further 
back.  In  1848.  Rev.  Luther  Stone,  now  of  Chicago,  spent  a 
number  of  weeks  in  Burlington,  found  a  few  Baptists,  and 
preached  a  number  of  sermons.  Rev.  Alexander  Evans 
and  perhaps  one  or  two  others  had  also  preached  occas- 
ional sermons,  but  there  was  no  organization.  Rev.  Ceorge 
J.  Jolinson  "first  arrived  in  Burlington,  on  the  evening  of 
the  first  Wednesday  in  November,  1848,  the  da.y  following 
the  election  of  Gen.  Zachaiy  Taylor,  as  President  of  the 
United  States  "'  The  population  of  the  cit}^  at  that  time 
was  between  one  and  two  thousand.  In  a  reminiscence  of 
the  time,  Brother  Johnson  says  that  on  his  arrival  at  Bur- 
'lington,  "there  was  no  Baptist  Church  or  any  other  friends 
"  that  were  under  any  special  obligations  to  receive  him,  and 
that  he  had  not  money  enough  to  pay  his  way  for  half  a 


DEXTER  P.   SMITH,  D.  D. 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  105 

week.  '  He  however  found,  the  next  day,  a  "Kentnckian,'^ 
who  with  genuine  Kentucky  like  hospitality,  invited  him 
to  his  home  and  made  him  welcome.  This  was  John  H. 
Webber  who  was  afterwards  the  first  person  ever  baptized 
by  Brother  Johnson,  and  so  far  as  known,  the  first  in  the 
Mississippi  River  at  Burlington.  He  is  supposed  to  be 
still  living  at  East  Portland,  Oregon.  On  the  first  Lord's 
day,  in  April,  1849,  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Burling- 
ton, was  organized  with  twelve  members,  and  six  others 
were  baptized  on  the  same  day.  In  1849  the  Church  was 
represented  in  the  State  Convention  and  in  1850  became 
connected  with  the  Des  Moines  Association.  In  June,  1851, 
the  Church  entered,  though  it  was  far  from  being  com- 
pleted, the  house,  where  its  services  were  regularly  held  for 
about  thirty-four  years,  until  the  conference  rooms  of  the 
present  house  were  occupied. 

We  have  no  record  of  this  year.  The  Association  was 
to  meet  at  the  Liberty  Church,  near  Charleston,  and  Rev. 
J.  M.  Hope  was  to  preach  the  sermon.  August 
8,  1848,  Brother  Hope  had  been  recommended  to 
the  Home  Mission  Society,  by  the  Executive  Board  of  the 
Convention,  "to  labor  with  the  Baptist  Church  in  Keokuk, 
with  an  appropriation  of  $250.00  for  one  year  from  June  1, 
1848,''but  the  record  says,  "withdrawn  by  Brother  Hope  at 
the  expiration  of  six  months,  on  account  of  impaired 
vision." 

Met  for  the  fourth  time,  at  Danville.  The  introductory 
sermon  was  preached  by  Brother  Burnett,  from  Acts  20:  24. 

Rev.  H.  Burnett  was  chosen  Moderator,  Rev.  E. 

Gunn,  Clerk  and  M.  W.  Rudd,  Treasurer.  This  is 
Brother  Gunn's  first  introduction  to  the  Association  and  to 
the  State.  He  is  pastor  at  Keokuk  where  7  baptisms  are 
reported,  15  received  by  letter  and  the  church  numbers  36. 


106  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Brother  Gunn  received  his  first  appointment  from  the 
Home  Mission  Society  to  labor  at  Keokuk  in  1849,  laboring 
13  weeks  in  that  3"ear.  Delegates  of  the  Burlington,  Bright- 
on, Richland,  Charleston  and  Aurora  Churches  came  for- 
ward and  requested  admittance  into  the  Association,  and 
upon  favorable  report  of  a  committee,  they  were  all  received. 
There  were  now  27  Churches,  71  baptisms  reported,  139 
received  in  other  ways  and  a  total  membership  of  912.  The 
Burlington  Church  reports  13  baptisms,  35  received  in 
other  wa3^s  and  41  members. 

The  Association  met  at  Agency  City.  Rev.  O.  Ormsby, 
of  Troy,  preached  the  introductory  sermon  and  was  chosen 

Moderator,  Brother  Gunn  of  Keokuk,  Clerk  and  M. 

W.  Rudd,  Treasurer.  The  great  revival  elsewhere 
noticed  in  the  Sketches,  as  setting  in  soon  after  1850,  is 
fully  inaugurated,  219  baptisms  are  reported.  Rev.  G.  J. 
Johnson  reports  77  baptisms  at  Burlington.  They  were 
permitted  to  visit  the  baptismal  waters  for  thirteen  con- 
secutive Sabbaths,  and  have  now  136  members.  Members 
in  the  Association,  1126,  in  27  Churches,  with  11  pastors. 
Wm.  A.  Wells  is  pastor  at  Danville,  O.  Ormsby  at  Keosau- 
c[ua  and  Fox  River,  W.  H.  Turton  at  Farmington,  G.  W. 
Bond  at  Oskaloosa,  Aurora  and  Knoxville,  Wm.  Elliott  at 
Fairfield  and  Brighton,  Hiram  Burnett  at  Mt.  Pleasant, 
Eiihu  Gunn  at  Keokuk,  T.  J.  Penny  at  Pisgah,  G.  J.  John- 
son at  Burlington,  and  J.  B.  McGlasson  at  Blakesburg. 
At  this  meeting  in  1851  the  division  of  the  Association 
which  had  been  impending  for  some  time  took  place,  and 
the  West  Des  Moines,  afterwards  Oskaloosa,  Association 
was  formed.  Prior  to  this  division  the  Des  Moines  Asso- 
ciation had  extended  from  Keokuk  and  Burlington  on  the 
Mississippi,  to  Knoxville  in  Marion  county,  and  at  one  time 
to  Fort  Des  Moine^,  and  embraced  all  the  territory  south 
of  the  Iowa  River.      The  division  was  amicably  arrived  at 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  107 

and  was  made  "On  a  line  to  be  drawn  from  Keosauqua  to 
Fairfield,  and  from  thence  to  Brighton,  thence  on  the  line 
dividing  the  counties  of  Keokuk  and  Washington, ''  the 
Churches  at  the  places  named,  on  this  line  to  be  in  the 
western  division.  This  divided  the  then  existing  Churches 
south  of  the  Iowa  River  into  two  respectable  Associations 
in  point  of  numbers,  and  of  nearly  equal  strength.  Keo- 
kuk "have  disposed  of  their  old  house  of  worship  and  lot, 
and  purchased  a  new  and  better  lot,  upon  which  they  ex- 
pect soon  to  have  a  new  and  commodious  house  of  worship 
erected.  "  It  sounds  strangely  to  hear  a  Church  not  yet 
five  years  old  talking  of  its  old  house  of  worship,  but  it 
illustrates  how  rapidly  changes  came  about  in  those  stir- 
ring pioneer  days.  Burlington  had  been  enabled  to  enter 
their  new  house  of  worship,  the  interior  of  which  was  now 
"entirely  completed." 

The  Association  met  at  Keokuk.  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Turton 
preached  the  introductory  sermon.  Rev.  E.  Gunn  was 
chosen  Moderator  and  Brother  Turton,  Clerk, 
and  Deacon  E.  Cady,  Treasurer.  Though  the  As- 
sociation has  been  reduced  by  the  organization  of  a  new 
one  on  tho  west,  from  about  30  Churches  to  16,  yet  an  era 
of  unparalleled  prosperity  is  about  to  be  ushered  in. 
Two  new  Churches  are  received  ;  the  Jefferson  and  Augus- 
ta Churches,  and  there  are  now  16  Churches,  71  baptisms 
reported,  69  received  in  other  ways,  and  the  membership  is 
725.  Burlington  have  baptized  26,  and  the  new  Church  at 
Jefferson  organized  last  March,  report  19  baptisms.  Elder 
Burnett  is  preaching  the  Word  to  them. 

The  Association  met  at  Farmington,  in  the  Congrega- 

tionalist  House  of  Worship.     Introductory  sermon  by  Rev. 

Geo.  J.  Johnson.     H.  Burnett  Moderator,  and  W. 

H.   Turton    Clerk.      The   Church   at   Keosauqua 


108  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

seems  to  have,  for  a  time,  lost  its  visibility,  and  is  again  re- 
ceived into  tlie  body.  Glasgow  is  also  a  new  organization 
where  38  have  been  baptized  and  56  members  are  reported. 
Rev,  H.  R.  Wilber  appears  as  pastor  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  Obed 
Sperry  at  Pisgah,  and  Isaac  Leonard  at  Rock  Spring. 
Brother  Sperry  should  have  been  noticed  at  Pisgah  a  year 
ago.  Also  Rev.  E.  O.  Town  at  Mount  Zion.  Brother  Leon- 
ard has  been  reported  as  a  Licentiate  of  the  Burlington 
Church  for  a  couple  of  years ;  was  ordained  in  1851,  Broth- 
er Town  in  1852,  Rev.  B.  F.  Bray  brook  preaching  the  ser- 
mon in  both  instances.  Churches  in  1852,  17;  pastors,  8; 
baptisms,  136 ;  total  membership,  812.  Perhaps  the  pro- 
gress of  the  great  revival  in  this  Association  for  the  next 
five  years  will  be  best  shown  by  exhibiting  in  a  condensed 
statement,  the  names  of  Churches,  pastors  and  number  of 
baptisms  each  year,  in  the  principal  places  visited  by  the 
Saving  Power  of  God.  Beginning  with  1853,  and  ending 
with  1857. 

1853.  Danville,  Obed  Sperry,  12;  Bonaparte,  no  pas- 
tor, 15  ;Mt.  Pleasant,  H  R.  Wilber,  25 ;  Burlington,  G.  J. 
Johnson,  13  ;  Jefferson,  H.  Burnett,  13  ;  Glasgow,  Wm.  El- 
liott, 16  ;  other  baptisms,  19  ;  total,  139. 

1854.  Union,  S.  Pickard,  12 ;  Liberty,  S.  Pickard,  21  ; 
Keokuk,  E.  Gunu,  29;  Burlington,  G.  J.  Johnson,  124;  Jef- 
ferson, no  pastor,  17  ;  Richmond,  Charles  Thompson,  15; 
Lockridge,  Wm.  Elliott,  16 ;  other  baptisms,  13;  total,  247. 

1855.  Union,  S.  Pickard,  37 ;  Bonaparte,  M.  Sutton,  10  ; 
Washington,  C.  Thompson,  15;  Burlington,  G.  J.  John- 
son, 17 ;  Glasgow,  Wm.  Elliott,  12 ;  Tuscarora,  S.  Pickard, 
23;  other  baptisms,  27  ;  total  140. 

1856.  Danville,  J.  G.  Bowen,  20;  Bonaparte,  M.  Sutton, 
15 ;  Liberty,  S.  Pickard,  42;  Keokuk,  E.  Gunn,  11 ;  Burling- 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  109 

ton,  G.  J.  Johnson,  26;  Jefferson,  W.  Elliott,  15  ;  Glasgow, 
W.  Elliott,  12;  Tuscarora,  S.  Pickard,  12;  other  baptisms, 
16;  total,  169. 

1857.  Pisgali,  Isaac  Leonard,  46  ;  Bonaparte,  M.  Sutton, 
7;  Mt.  Pleasant,  H.  K.  Wilber,  37 ;  First  Keokuk,  E  Gunn 
(resigned),  85;  First  Burlington,  G.  J.  Johnson,  27;  Jeffer- 
son, W.  Elliott,  23 ;  Glasgow,  W.  Elliott,  7;  Tuscarora,  S. 
Pickard  (resigned),  10;  Second  Keokuk,  S.  Pickard.  30; 
Denmark,  M.  Edwards,  1 ;  total,  223.  Total  baptisms  for 
five  years,  917. 

The  above  will  show  the  pastors  doing  service  during 
the  same  period. 

The  Association  met  at  Jefferson  in  1854.  Introductory 
sermon  by  H.  R.  Wilber.  H.  Burnett,  Moderator,  H.  R. 
Wilber,  Clerk.  In  1855  meeting  at  Burlington.  Preacher, 
M.  Sutton  ;  Moderator,  M.  Sutton  ;  Clerk,  H.  R.  Wilber. 
Place  of  meeting  in  1856,  Glasgow.  Preacher^  Morgan 
Edwards;  Moderator,  Wm.  Elliott;  Clerk,  H.  R.  Wilber. 

Bonaparte.     Preacher,  Morgan  Edwards  ;  Moderator,  T. 

J.  Penny ;  Clerk,  H.  R.  Wilber.  There  are  now— 1867— 22 
Churches,  11  pastors, — 7  other  ordained  minis- 
ters, 12  Licentiates — and  1,609  members.  Among 

those  just  licensed  to  preach,  are  E.  C.  Cady,  of  the  Ban- 

ville  Church,  W.  A.  Eggleston,  of  Mount  Pleasant,  J.  M. 

Wood  and  J.  Lee,  of  Glasgow,  who  have  since  been  long  and. 

well  known  among  Iowa  Baptist  ministers. 

The  Association  held  its  Twentieth  Anniversary  with 
the  Baptist  Church  at  Richmond.  Annual  sermon  by 
Rev.  G.  J.  Johnson,  who  was  elected  Moderator, 
Rev.  M.  Sutton,  Clerk  and  Calvin  Craven,  Treas- 
urer. Throughout  1858  the  revival  work  seems  unabated. 
Before  its  close.  Brother  Leonard  has  baptized  at  Pisgah 
14 ;  Brother  Sutton  at   Bonaparte   26 ;  Brother   Moore   at 


110  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Charleston  15,  and  at  Bethlehem  13  ;  G.  J.  Johnson  at  Bur- 
lington 25;  Brother  Elliott  at  Glasgow  31;  G.  W.  S.  Bell 
at  Richmond  45;  W.  A.  Eggleston  at  New  London  14; 
Jonathan  Lee  at  Tuscarora  (Pilot  Grove)  11 ;  Pickard  at  2d 
Keokuk  27,  and  Thomas  M.  Ind  at  2d  Burlington  32. 
Other  baptisms  had  been  30,  and  the  whole  number  283. 
Rev.  P.  P.  Bishop  during  this  year  becomes  pastor  at 
Burlington,  and  Rev.  G.  J.  Johnson,  having  closed  his 
labors  there,  goes  to  Fort  Madison,  where  53  converts  have 
been  baptized  and  a  Church  of  102  members  raised  up. 
Rev.  W.  W.  Allen  is  pastor  at  Keokuk  and  A.  Edson  at 
Washington. 

We  have  dwelt  in  considerable  detail  on  these  revival 
years  in  the  hope  that  their  perusal  by  such  of  those  who 
were  permitted  to  mingle  in  these  Spiritual  awakenings,  as 
are  still  in  the  flesh,  and  by  all  of  us,  may  awaken  the 
memory  of  their  blessedness,  and  create  an  earnest  longing 
for  a  return  of  those  days  of  the  mighty  power  of  God. 
"Blessed  are  they  that  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteous- 
ness for  they  shall  be  filled." 

The  earnest  spirit  of  devotion  that  showed  itself,  and 
the  patient  continuance  in  religious  exercises  that  show 
them  to  have  been  a  joy,  are  worthy  of  a  little  careful 
study.  This  will  be  best  seen  in  a  sketch  of  the  doings  of 
one  Associational  Sabbath.  In  August,  1858,  the  Des 
Moines  Association  met  at  Richmond,  Iowa.  The  follow- 
ing is  a  full  minute  of  the  services  of  Sunday,  August  22. 
Prayer  meeting  was  held  at  7  a.  m.;  Brother  Ford  addressed 
the  Sabbath  School  for  about  one  hour  at  8:30  a  m.; 
Brother  Sutton  preached  at  10  a.  m.,  from  2  Corinthians  v: 
20,  21;  Brother  Bastion  preached  at  11  a.  m.,  from  Romans 
X.  13,  after  which  a  collection  was  taken  for  the  State  Con- 
vention   amounting    to    §i21.60;     Brother   W.    W.    Allen 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  Ill 

preached  at  2:'Si)  p.  m.,  from  Matthew  10:  8,  after  which 
Brotlier  Johnson  made  remarks  and  took  np  a  collection 
for  the  Publication  Society,  of  114.35.  Prayer  meeting 
was  held  at  night,  and  then  Brother  Edson  preached  from 
Jobix:  2,  and  Brother  Eggleston  from  Galationsv:  6.  The 
services  of  the  day  were  throughout  largely  attended,  and 
seemingly  attended  with  a  solemn  sense  of  the  Divine 
presence."  Seven  sermons  and  two  prayer  meetings  in  the 
same  house  in  one  day!  What  else  than  "a  solemn  sense 
of  the  Divine  presence''  could  make  such  a  bill  of  fare 
possible?  Doubtless,  many  will  read  this  account  with  a 
smile  to-day,  and  think  of  that  day's  services  as  belonging 
to  a  past  order,  when  people  had  not  yet  learned  to  free 
themselves  from  the  bondage  of  long  and,  perhaps,  dry 
sermons,  etc.  But  as  we  have  studied  it  in  connection 
with  the  evidences  of  the  mighty  power  of  God  in  the 
Churches  during  those  years,  we  cannot  doubt  that  such  a 
lingering  in  the  sanctuary,  and  such  prolonged  listening 
to  God's  Holy  Word,  was  a  most  natural  and  a  most 
delightful  thing.  May  the  reminiscence  of  it  tend  to  hasten 
the  return  of  a  similar  sense  of  the  Divine  presence  in  all 
our  associational  gatherings ! 

The  Des  Moines  Association  has  had  a  prosperous  his- 
tory. Though  the  territory  has  been  reduced  by  the  organi- 
zation of  the  Oskaloosa  Association,  the  necessity  or  ex- 
pediency of  further  dividing  it  had  been  agitated  for  a 
year  or  two.  The  question  has  been  submitted  to  the 
Churches  in  1856,  and  at  the  Annual  Meeting  in  Bonaparte 
in  1857,  a  committee  was  appointed  "to  examine  the  votes 
of  the  Churches''  in  reference  to  the  matter.  This  com- 
mittee reported  tliat  five  Churches  had  voted  for,  and  ten 
against  division. 

At  the  meeting  in   Richmond  in  1858,  "on  reqnest  of 


112  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

the  Glasgow  Clinrch,  and  on  motion  of  T.  R.  Carter,  a 
special  committee  was  appointed  on  division  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, as  follows:  C.  Craven,  T.  R.  Carter,  E.  Cady;  J.  W. 
Ratliff  and  D.  W.  Ford."  A  majority  of  this  committee 
reported,  through  the  Chairman,  C.  Craven,  against  divis- 
ion. A  minority  report  brought  in  by  Brother  Carter, 
favored  division.  Tiie  question  was  again  submitted  to 
the  Churches,  with  the  recommendation  "that  the  Churches 
desiring  a  division,  communicate  that  desire  to  the  next 
Association  for  such  action  as  may  then  be  deemed  proper." 

The  Twenty  first  and  last  Anniversary  of  the  Des 
Moines  Association  was    held    with    the    Pisgah  Baptist 

Church,  near  Dodgeville,  Iowa,  August  27,  1859. 

The  tide  of  revival  and  of  prosperity  is  still  una- 
bated. TJiere  are  now  24  Churches,  with  14  pastors,  321 
baptisms  are  reported,  213  other  additions,  and  a  total 
membership  of  2,036.  A  net  increase  for  one  year  of  316. 
Under  the  powerful  revival  efforts  of  Rev.  Morgan  Edwards 
a  Church  of  102  members  has  been  raised  up  at  Fort  Madi- 
son within  a  year ;  53  of  whom  have  been  received  by  bap- 
tism, and  Rev.  G.  J.  Johnson  settled  as  pastor.  Also  by 
Brother  Edwards'  labor,  a  Church  of  75  members  at  West 
Point,  of  whom  57  are  by  baptism. 

The  proposition  to  divide  I  lie  Association  has  at  last 
prevailed.  In  a  report  made  by  Rev.  G.  J.  Johnson,  Corre- 
sponding Secretary,  to  the  Slate  Convention  at  Oskaloosa, 
in  October,  1859,  we  find  the  following.  After  stating 
some  of  the  cheering  facts  of  the  Association's  prosperit}" 
in  the  year  past,  he  says:  "In  view  of  the  enlarged  mem- 
bership of  the  Association,  the  throngs  drawn  together 
thereb}'  to  attend  upon  its  meetings,  "  *  and  the  great 
distance  to  be  traveled  over  in  order  to  attend  its  sessions, 
the  Association  was  divided  and  resolved  into  two  new 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  113 

Associations,  named  respectively,  Bnilington  and  Keolvuk 
Associations."'  The  report  then  closes  with  a  just  tribute 
to  the  memoiy  of  the  Des  Moines  Association,  as  follows: 
"Surely  the  Lord  has  done  great  things  for  the  Des  Moines 
Association,  whereof  we  are  glad.  It  was  organized  just 
twenty  years  ago  last  August,  under  the  name  of  the  Iowa 
Association,  and  then  embraced  the  whole  State.  It  has 
since  been  changed  in  its  name,  divided  and  sub-divided 
repeatedly  in  its  territory,  and  now,  finally  has  passed  out 
of  being  and  taken  its  place  among  the  things  of  the  past. 
And  yet,  though  this  Association  has  ceased  to  exist,  the 
name  will  be  associated  in  many  minds  with  hallowed 
interest,  with  scenes  gone  by  and  long  cherished  in  the 
heart  of  sacred  memory,  by  many  friends  of  our  Zion  in 
Southeastern  Iowa."  Among  the  pastors  of  the  Des  Moines 
Association,  perhaps  not  mentioned  before,  are  D.  H.  Paul, 
at  Danville  in  1858,  and  W.  J.  Cochran,  at  Bethlehem  in 
1859,  and  others  may  have  been  unintentionally  overlooked. 
At  this  last  meeting  of  the  Des  Moines  Association  Rev. 
M.  Sutton  preached  the  annual  sermon,  Charles  Hlibbell, 
Esq.,  of  Keokuk,  was  Moderator,  P.  P.  Bishop,  of  Bur- 
lington, Clerk,  and  Isaac  Leonard,  Treasurer. 

The  history  of  the  Des  Moines  Association  is  a  history 
of  a  most  important  epoch  in  our  growth  as  a  common- 
wealth, and  is  full  of  the  deeds  and  thoughts  of  a  class  of 
men  who  would  do  honor  to  any  State  in  any  age.  Many 
of  these  noble  men  of  God  are  still  living  and  doing  for 
God  and  humanity.  With  them  these  reminiscences  must 
be  of  intense  interest.  Youth,  vigor,  anticipation,  sancti- 
fied ambition,  entJiusiasm,  are  atone  end  of  the  view.  Gray 
hairs,  experience,  sober  reflection,  trials  endured,  coura- 
geously met  and  surmounted  at  the  other.  In  many  in- 
stances doubtless,  mistakes  made,  discovered,  repented, 
and,  alas!  sometimes  when  too  late  to  make  amends,  all 


114 


HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 


reminding  us  that  the  treasures  of  gospel  grace  have  been 
committed  to  "earthen  vessels,"  and  yet  in  view  of  all, 
what  was  said  above  in  1859  is  true  in  1886,  the  name  of 
the  Des  Moines  Association  is  still  associated  in  many 
minds  with  hallowed  memories  and  scenes  of  those  early 
days  of  our  Iowa  Zion. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


The  Davenport  Association — The  Second  in  the  State. 
Organized — September  1842 — 1842  to  1862. 


HIS  was  the  Second  Association  organized  in  the 
State.  It  was  organized  in  the  City  of  Du- 
buque, in  September,  1842.  It  embraced  all 
the  Baptist  Churches  then  existing  in  the 
territory  north  of  the  Iowa  River,  except  one. 
There  names  were,  Bath  (afterwards  Le 
Clair),  Bloomington  (now  Muscatine),  Davenport,  Dubuque, 
Iowa  City  and  Maquoketa.  There  was  also  a  Church  at 
Delaware,  on  the  line  between  Delaware  and  Jones  counties, 
which  afterwards  united  with  the  body.  The  pastors  at 
the  time  of  the  organization  were  Burton  Carpenter,  ot 
Dubuque;  W.  B.  Morey,  of  Iowa  City;  Ezra  Fisher,  of 
Bloomington  and  Charles  E.  Brown,  of  Maquoketa.  Du- 
buque had  the  only  meeting  house  for  the  Baptists  in  the 
territory,  "a  low  wooden  building  18  or  20  feet  wide  by  30 
in  length."  The  Church  in  Davenport  had  succeeded  in 
"getting  up  the  brick  wall  for  a  house  about  the  same  size, 
which  was  enclosed  during  a  thaw  in  the  month  of  Janu- 
ary, 1843."  The  Churches  at  Iowa  City,  Muscatine  and 
Le  Clair  built  houses  about  1846  and  1847.     In  1843,  the 


116  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

year  after  its  organization,  tliis  Association  comprised  7 
Churches,  5  ministers,  had  baptized  11  persons  and  had  a 
membership  of  134. 

The  membership  had  reached  257  with  only  13  baptisms 

reported.     Churches  11.     Up  to  1850  the  growth  of  this 

^  ^  ,  _  Association  seems  to  have  been  very  slow. 
1845 

Churches   were   added   at  Marion,  in   1843 ;    La 

Motte,  in  1844:  Blue  Grass,  Scott  county,  in  1845;  Cas- 
cade, in  1846;  Clayton  county  and  Fairview,  in  1848;  and 
Hickory  Grove,  Scott  county,  in  1849.  Maquoketa  also 
seems  to  drop  out  of  notice  after  1842  and  appears  again  in 
1848.  The  ministers  in  this  Association  prior  to  1850  and 
not  named  in  its  organization  were,  T.  H.  Archibald,  1847; 
B.  F.  Brabrook,  1844;  Dexter  P.  Smith,  1844;  Ira  Blanch- 
ard,  and  perhaps  a  few  others.  The  only  indication  of 
revival  we  find  up  to  this  lime,  is  that  in  1847,  there  were 
baptized  at  Dubuque  20,  at  Bloomington  8,  at  Iowa  City 
9  and  at  Davenport  8,  with  6  in  other  Churches,  making  51 
in  all. 

The  Association  met  at  Cascade.  B.  F.  Brabrook,  of 
Davenport,  Moderator ;  T  .H.  Archibald,  of  Dubuque,  Clerk. 
1  RAQ  '^^^^  minutes  of  this  year  bear  evidence  of  vigor- 
ous and  earnest  thought,  on  all  the  questions 
agitating  the  times.  There  are  resolutions  against  slavery, 
against  members  of  the  Churches  being  members  of  secret 
societies  as  ''anscriptural  and  injurious  in  their  influence 
and  dangerous  in  their  tendenc}',"  against  countenancing 
circuses  and  theatres,  in  favor  of  total  abstinence,  and  re- 
commending the  first  Monday  of  the  next  January,  as  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  "if  God  peradventure  will  turn 
again  the  captivity  of  Zion."  There  is  also  a  circular 
letter  of  marked  vigor  of  style  on  "The  Nature  and  Impor- 
tance of  Scriptural  Discipline  in  the  Church." 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  117 

Met  at  Marion.  Dexter  P.  Smith,  Moderator ;  Geo.  H. 
Gorliam,  Clerk.     There  are  now  17  Churches,  12  ordained 

ministers,  37   baptisms   and   and  534   members. 

John  Williams  is  pastor  at  Marion^;  John  Bates, 
at  Cascade;  J.  Currier,  at  La  Motte ;  T.  H.  Archibald,  at 
Davenport,  G.  H.  Uorham,  at  Dubuque;  W.  Rutledge,  at  Le 
Clair ;  S.  P.  Johnson,  at  Muscatine  ;  D.  P.  Smith,  at  Iowa 
City;  C.  E.  Brown,  at  Maquoketa  and  O.  S.  Harding,  at 
Fairview. 


Met  at  Maquoketa.  B.  F.  Brabrook,  Moderator;  S.  B. 
Johnson,  Clerk.  Churches  have  been  admitted  at  Coles- 
burg,  26  members,  and  Comanche,  13.  J.  Bald- 
win is  preaching  at  Comanche  and  C.  D.  Farns- 
worth,  Licentiate,  at  Colesburg.  George  Scott,  at  Maquo- 
keta. There  are  17  Churches,  44  baptisms  reported  and 
620  members.  Rev.  G.  J.  Johnson,  of  Burlington,  is  here 
as  a  visitor  from  the  Des  Moines  Association. 

Met  at  Iowa  City.  Moderator,  Rev.  John  Bates,  of  Cas- 
cade; Clerk,  Rev.  A.  Russell  Belden,  of  Iowa  City.  Church 
at  DeWitt  received  with  13  members  and  Second 
'  Davenport  with  29  members,  702  members  in  the 
Association,  of  whom  22  have  been  baptized  within  the 
year.  Rev.  E.  M.  Miles  has  became  pastor  at  Second  Dav- 
enport; A.  R.  Belden,  at  Iowa  City;  W.  A.  Wells,  at  Mus- 
catine; and  J.  C.  Ward  has  succeeded  Pastor  Williams  at 
Marion.  The  minutes  this  year  contain  a  fine  cut  of  the 
Iowa  City  Church  which  was  dedicated  Nov.  2,  1848,  size 
41  by  63  and  cost  S4,300. 

Met  at  Colesburg.     Rev.  E.  M.  Miles,  Moderator;  iV.  S 

Bastion,  of  Dubuque,  Clerk;  Rev.  A.  R.  Belden,  of  Iowa  City, 

Corresponding  Secretary.      Five   new  Churches 

in  north-east  Iowa  have  been  organized   within 

the  year,  viz.,  Rossville,  West  Union,  Yankee  Settlement, 


118  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Delhi  and  Bear  Creek.  These  aggregate  67  members. 
There  are  marked  indications  of  revival,  84  have  been  bap- 
tized during  the  year  and  107  received  bj^  letter.  Of  the 
baptisms,  Iowa  Cit}^  has  received  21,  LaMotte  26  and  Mus- 
catine 21.  Churches  24,  members  862.  Among  the  pastors 
this  year  appear  O.  A.  Holmes,  at  Maquoketa  and  T.  W. 
Clark,  at  DeAVitt ;  also  Elder  Thomas  Slade  is  pastor  at 
First  Davenport.  A  committee  consisting  of  Brethren  Scott, 
Rupert,  Currier  and  Slade  were  appointed  to  consider  the 
propriety  of  dividing  the  Association.  This  committee  re- 
ported recommending  "in  view  of  the  vast  extent  of  terri- 
tory and  the  rapid  increase  of  our  Churches  in  numbers 
and  strength,"  that  a  division  be  made  "on  the  south  line 
of  Jackson  and  Jones  counties,"'  and  that  "to  accomplish 
this  object  properly,  the  subject  be  referred  to  the  Churches 
for  their  decision,  to  be  sent  in  rheir  letters  to  the  Asso- 
ciation next  year."  A  resolution  was  also  passed  most  earn- 
estly recommending  to  the  Home  Mission  Society,  the 
appointment  of  a  missionary  in  Allamakee  and  Clayton 
counties. 

The  anniversary  was  to  be  with  the  Comanche  Church. 
For  the  j^ears  1854  and  1858,  inclusive,  we  have  no  minutes 
of  this  body  at  hand  as  we  write.  From  other 
records  we  gather  such  facts  as  we  can.  The 
revival  interest  continues.  There  are  22  Churches,  73  bap- 
tisms, 201  received  by  letter  and  1,022  members.  The 
Churches  sharing  in  the  revival,  as  indicated  by  the  bap- 
tisms, are  Muscatine  21,  A.  G.  Eberhart,  pastor;  Cascade 
15;  Maquoketo  7,  and  2d  Davenport  13.  Besides  the  com- 
ing of  A.  G.  Eberhart  to  Muscatine,  the  changes  in  pastors 
are,  G.  D.  Simmons  to  Iowa  City,  D.  H.  Paul  to  Comanche 
and  J.  Schofield  to  Rossville. 

Met  at  Muscatine.     During  this  year  Rev.  A.  R.  Belden, 


Lza    -  OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  119 

of  Iowa  City,  has  been  removed  by  death.  By  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Dubuque  Association,  August  30, 1855, 
taking  off  considerably  more  than  half  the 
Churches  of  this  body,  the  Davenport  Association  lias 
become  very  much  reduced  in  members  and  territory. 
Only  nine  Churches  remain,  viz.:  1st  and  2d  Davenport, 
Le  Claire,  Muscatine,  Iowa  City,  Blue  Grass,  Comanche, 
DeWitt  and  Hickory  Grove.  The  levival,  however,  has 
greatly  increased.  Baptisms  reported,  106:  whole  number 
of  members,  634.  Davenport  1st  has  baptized  31,  Wm, 
Rutlidge,  pastor ;  Le  Claire,  P.  P.  Shirley,  40 ;  Muscatine, 
A.  G.  Eberhart,  16,  and  Davenport  2d,  12.  Besides  the 
pastors  named,  Rev.  C.  Billings  Smith  is  at  Iowa  City,  W. 
J.  Parkhurst  at  Comanche  and  L.  Carpenter  still  at  Blue 
Grass.  The  next  meeting  of  the  Association  is  to  be  at 
Blue  Grass. 

There  are  but  few  changes  to  note.  N.  S.  Bastion  has 
become  pastor  of  First  Davenport,  and  Geo.  J.  Miles,  a 
brotlier  of  the  Second  Davenport^  yjastor,  at  Mus- 
catine. A  small  Church  has  been  organized  at 
Alill  Creek,  in  Cedar  county,  with  P.  A.  Gates  pastor,  which 
is  to  be  shortlived  liowever,  and  a  German  Church  at  Mus- 
catine, with  Rev.  C.  Shoemaker  as  pastor,  and  54  members, 
9  of  whom  have  been  baptized  daring  the  year.  The  glo- 
rious revival  has  continued  with  evident  increase  and  great 
power.  The  eleven  Churches  have  reported  188  baptisms 
and  837  members.  Of  the  baptisms  Rev.  P.  P.  Shirley, 
LeClaire  reports  42  ;  G.  J.  Miles,  Muscatine,  69 ;  L.  Car- 
penter, Blue  Grass,  13;  W.  J.  Parkhurst,  Comanche,  33  ; 
and  E.  M.  Miles,  Second  Davenport,  20.  Next  Anniversa- 
ry at  LeClaire. 

Rev.  I.  Butterfield  has  assumed  the  pastorate  at  Second 
Davenport,    Rev.  Wm.  Wood  at  DeWitt,  and  a  Church  has 


1856. 


120  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

been  formed  at  Lyons  with  23  members  and  A.  A.  Sawin 
as  pastor.  Also  Zion  Church  near  LeClaire  where  Rev.  P. 
P.  Shirley  has  baptized  31  and  there  are  79  mem- 
bers.  Baptisms  in  the  Association  121,  members 
1025,  in  13  Churches,  with  11  pastors.  It  is  a  time  of  won- 
derful growth  in  the  Association  and  in  the  entire  state. 

Comanche  is  the  place  of  meeting.  Another  3^ear  of 
unprecedented  prosperity,  the  baptisms  indicate.  Two 
hundred  and  forty-one  baptisms  are  reported 
and  the  total  membership  in  15  Churches,  with 
10  pastors,  has  been  swelled  to  1,311.  A  Church  has  been 
formed  at  Clinton  where  H.  R.  Wilber  is  pastor  and 
reports  23  members.  Zion,  P.  P.  Shirley,  pastor,  reports 
87  baptisms ;  Davenport  2d,  I.  Butterfield,  42 ;  Iowa  Cit}^ 
C.  Billings  Smith,  35 ;  others  smaller  numbers.  JSTot  a 
Church  reporting  at  this  anniversary  meeting  but  reports 
some  baptized.  Rev.  H.  R.  Wilber,  the  Secretary,  in  a 
note  to  the  State  Convention,  makes  glowing  mention  of 
these  Spiritual  blessings  and  says,  ''Nor  have  we  ground 
to  suspect  that  the  outward  advancement  of  the  Churches 
has  outrun  their  inward  and  Spiritual  prosperity.  We 
will  fain  believe  that  with  the  lengthening  'cords'  the 
'stakes'  have  been  strengthened  also."  It  is  refreshing  even 
now,  at  the  distance  of  almost  30  years,  to  sketch  this 
period  of  the  "3'eavs  of  the  right  hand  of  the  Most  High." 

The  Association  met  at  Davenport  with  the  2d  Baptist 
Church.  Rev.  J.  Edminster  preached  the  introductory 
sermon,  Rev.  C.  H.  Remington,  Moderator  and 
Rev.  G.  W.  Folwell,  Clerk.  Two  Churches  are 
received,  Mt.  Joy  and  Princeton.  At  the  latter  place  there 
had  been  an  organization  earlier  which  had  become  extinct 
The  present  organization  was  not  to  be  very  long  lived. 
New  names  of  pastors  appear  upon  the  records  as  follows  : 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  121 

J.  Edmiiister,  Comanche  (1858);  G.  W.  Folvvell,  First  Dav- 
enport, (1858);  and  in  1859  D.  D.  Gregory,  DeWitt,  A.  H. 
Starkweather,  Lyons,  James  H.  Noble,  Mill  Creek,  C.  H. 
Remington,  Mnscatine,  and  S.  Morton,  VanBuren.  There 
are  now  17  Churches,  14  pastors  and  1282  members,  of 
whom  62  have  been  baptized  during  the  year,  and  157 
received  from  all  sources.  The  name  of  the  venerable 
Thomas  Powell,  so  long  and  honorably  connected  with 
Home  Missions  in  the  west,  appears  this  year  as  a  delegate 
from  the  Second  Church  in  Davenport.  Also  that  of  Re«^. 
I.  J.  Stoddard,  representing  Foreign  Missions,  is  among  the 
visitors.  The  year  has  been  one  of  reasonable  prosperity, 
and  the  Churches  seem  to  be  well  manned  for  work;  but 
the  great  revival  of  last  year  has  manifestly  in  a  measure 
passed  away. 

Zion  Church  near  Le  Claire  is  the  place  of  meeting,  time 
Wednesday,  September  12.  Moderator,  Rev.  I.  Biitterfield: 
clerk.  Rev.  A.  H.  Starkweather.  The  introduct- 
ory sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Thomas  Pow- 
ell. During  the  past  summer  the  Church  at  Comanche 
have  lost  their  House  of  Worship,  some  of  their  valuable 
members  tlieir  lives,  and  others  their  homes,  in  the  terrible 
tornado  which  swept  away  much  of  the  town,  in  the 
month  of  June,  1860.  The  pastor,  Bro.  J.  Edminster, 
also  lost  his  librar}^  and  furniture.  By  the  energy  of  the 
pastor  however,  and  the  liberality  of  friends  abroad,  the 
meeting  house  has  been  replaced  with  another  and  the 
Church  still  lives.  Complaint  is  made  of  a  rather  unfruit- 
ful year  in  spiritual  things.  There  are  19  Churches,  17  pas- 
tors, 73  received  by  baptism,  227  from  all  sources,  and  a  to- 
tal membership  of  1238.  Rev.  John  Scott  has  been  settled 
as  pastor  at  Clinton,  James  Dixon  at  Iowa  City,  and  E.  D. 
Philips  has  been  ordained  pastor  at  VanBuren.  Brother 
Starkweather,  in  a  report  to  the  State  Convention,  while 


122  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

lamenting  the  barrenness  of  spiritual  frnits  expresses  hope 
for  a  better  report  in  the  year  to  come.  He  says,  "Indeed, 
if  the  interest  manifested  at  our  annual  gathering  may 
serve  as  a  criterion,  we  shall  doubtless  have  much  good 
news  to  relate  in  our  next  report." 

Met  at  DeWitt.  Rev.  C.  H.  Remington  preached  the 
sermon.  Moderator,  J.  Edminster;  clerk,  A.  H.  Stark- 
weather. The  hoped-for  increase  of  spiritual 
iDDi.  power  has  not  been  fully  realized,  but  perhaps 
we  shall  discover  that  the  inspiration  noticed  last  year 
had  been  given  for  ^another  purpose.  The  great  National 
crisis  just  breaking  out  in  the  Rebellion  will  demand  all 
our  resources  of  courage,  grace,  and  grit.  The  Davenport 
Association  will  not  be  lacking  in  the  support  of  our  coun- 
try. A  letter  was  received  from  R.  B.  Fulton  of  the  army 
in  camp  at  Burlington,  Iowa,  setting  forth  the  temptations 
and  the  needs  of  army  life,  and  earnestly  pleading  for 
christian  sympathy  and  prayer  in  their  behalf.  The  let- 
ter was  ordered  printed  in  the  minutes  and  hearty  reso- 
lutions of  sympathy  with  the  Government  were  passed. 
There  are  still  some  indications  of  spiritual  life  in  the 
Churches,  notwithstanding  the  adverse  conditions  abound- 
ing. There  have  been  baptized  61;  received  in  other  waj^s, 
112;  present  total  1346  in  20  Churches,  of  which  15  are 
supplied  with  pastors. 

The  First  Davenport  Church  has  disbanded  and  given 
place  to  a  new  organization  called  the  Main  Street  Baptist 
Church,  with  Wm.  Storrs  as  pastor.  Have  had  a  revival 
and  baptized  13.  Second  Davenport  is  still  prospering,  with 
pastor  Butterfield  and  have  baptized  11.  Zion  Church  is 
oppressed  with  a  debt.  Bro.  Arthur  Stott,  a  Licentiate,  is 
supplying  the  pulpit.  Lyons  have  completed  and  dedica- 
ted a  new  house  of  worship. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


Davenport  AssociATioisr  Continued — From  1862  to  1886. 


JJV  1862  the  Association  met  at  Lyons.  Moder- 
ator and  clerk  the  same  as  last  year,  and 
Bro  Edminster  preached  the  sermon.  Only 
25  baptisms  are  reported  ;  the  total  member- 
ship being  1315.  The  absorbing  interest  is 
the  state  of  the  country,  yet  there  is  reported  at  the  annual 
meeting  ''a  season  of  delightful  brotherly  interchanges" 
which  it  is  believed  "will  result  in  much  good  to  all  the 
Churches."  We  find  this  year,  Rev.  J.  T.  Westover  be- 
ginning a  pastorate  at  Iowa  City.  G.  W.  Dowd  is  also 
preaching  at  Zion.  Comanche  have  given  17  of  their  mem- 
bers to  the  army. 

Assembled  at  Iowa  City.     J.  T.  Westover  Moderator,  S. 
L.  Burnham,  clerk.  Rev.  E.  M.  Miles  preached  the  introduc- 
tory sermon.     Several  Churches  lament  the  loss 

1    O  C;  Q  '' 

of  faithful  members  who  have  fallen  in  the  service 
of  their  country.  Iowa  City  alone  has  been  visited  with  a 
revival.  Brother  Westover  has  been  permitted  to  baptize 
88.  A  new  Church  at  Clear  Creek,  8  miles  west,  report  6 
baptisms.  Besides  these  there  are  only  6  baptisms  report- 
ed in  the  Association.  The  Clear  Creek  Church  is  received 
into  the  body      Rev.  S.  L.  Burnham   has  become  pastor  at 


124  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Muscatine,  and  the  ladies  of  the  Church  have  secured  a 
lot  on  which  it  is  hoped  to  build  a  new  edifice  ere  long. 
The  present  is  a  time  of  great  trial  but  faithful  holding  on. 

Met  at  Muscatine.     Rev.  D.  P.  Smith  preached  the  ser- 
mon and  was  elected  Moderator,  and   James   T.  Lane  of 
Davenport,  clerk.     The  spiritual   dearth  lament- 
^o^-±.       ^^1  ^^^.  ^1^^  jg^g^  j.^^^  Q^.  tiii^ee  years  seems  to  have 

passed  and  showers  of  blessing  are  manifest;  115  baptisms 
are  reported,  and  1177  members  in  14  churches.  Several 
small  churches  have  evidently  become  extinct  or  do  not 
report.  The  boundaries  of  the  Association  have  varied  but 
little  since  the  organization  of  the  Dubuque  Association 
ten  years  ago.  The  name  of  the  Second  Baptist  Church  at 
Davenport  has  been  changed  to  the  Calvary  Church,  and 
the  Main  Street  Church  become  extinct  and  many  of  its 
members  have  been  received  with  open  arms  into  the  Cal- 
vary Church.  Rev.  D.  S.  Watson  has  succeeded  pastor 
Butterfield ;  52  have  been  baptized  in  this  Church  and  44 
received  by  letter,  and  a  debt  of  $6,000  has  been  paid. 
Muscatine  have  baptized  36,  S.  L.  Burnham  still  pastor;  Ly- 
ons, Pastor  Starkweather  15,  and  Bro.  Edminster  at  Coman- 
che 11.  Rev.  B.  F.  Ashley  has  become  pastor  at  Iowa  City. 
Muscatine  have  nearly  completed  their  new  brick  meeting 
house.  At  this  meeting  the  writer  of  these  Sketches  for  the 
first  time  met  with  the  Davenport  Association  as  Agent  of 
the  State  Convention.  His  cordial  reception  is  a  cheering 
recollection  after  the  lapse  of  twenty-two  years. 

The  place  of  meeting  this  year  is  Comanche.  S.  L. 
Burnham  is  clerk.  W.  G.  Moore  has  become  pastor  at 
Clinton,  A.  Kenyonat  Iowa  City  ;  Calvary  Daven- 
^^^^-  port  have  baptized  51,  Clinton  8,  Lyons  10;  total 
Churches  18,  baptisms  82,  other  additions  178.  membership 
1402.     The  Church  at  DeWitt  have  during  the  year  com- 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  125 

pleted  and  paid  for  their  house  of  worship,  and  are  in  a 
healthy  condition,  and  Comanche  have  built  a  good  par- 
sonage. On  the  whole  there  is  a  good  degree  of  vitality 
and  some  of  the  Churches  have  made  material  advancement. 

The  Twenty-Fifth  Anniversary  is  held  at  Davenport, 
the  city  whence  the  Association  takes  its  name.  Introduc- 
tory sermon  by  Rev.  A.  Kenyon  of  Iowa  City,  J. 
Edminster,  Moderator,  Rev.  Edwin  Eaton,  clerk. 
Mr.  Eaion  is  pastor  at  Muscatine,  having  succeeded  S.  L. 
Burnham,  A.  D.  Freeman  at  Clinton,  and  J.  M.  Lackey  at 
DeWitt.  Another  revival  season  has  visited  many  of  our 
Churches ;  40  have  been  baptized  at  Comanche,  20  at  Iowa 
City,  25  at  Muscatine,  14  at  Zion,  and  29  at  Downey,  where 
a  new  Church  is  added  to  the  Association.  Total  baptisms 
146,  additions  from  all  sources  258,  members  1415. 

Met  at  Zion,  Scott  county.  Officers  same  as  last  year. 
Rev.  A.  H.  Starkweather,  who  was  to  have  preached  the 
annual  sermon,  has  been  called  to  his  heavenly 
rest.and  his  alternate,  Rev.  Edwin  Eaton,  has  the 
painful  duty  of  filling  his  place.  A  good  degree  of  the  "re- 
freshing from  the  presence  of  the  Lord"  continues  to  be 
manifest  in  the  reports  from  the  Churches.  Baptisms  148, 
additions  262,  members  1532.  The  largest  sharers  in  the 
revival  are  Calvary  Davenport,  D.  S.  Watson,  pastor,  bap- 
tized 50 ;  DeWitt,  J.  Edminster,  32 ;  Iowa  City,  A.  H.  Stow- 
ell,  35;  and  Muscatine,  E.  Eaton,  10.  The  Iowa  City  pastor 
has  just  come  on  tlie  field  this  3  ear.  Brother  Edminster 
has  removed  from  Comanche  to  DeWitt  and  Brother  Lack- 
ey has  taken  his  place  at  the  former  Church.  Rev.  A.  D. 
Freeman  has  resigned  at  Clinton  ;  Bro.  Robert  Leslie,  li- 
censed by  this  Church,  has  supplied  them  very  acceptably 
for  a  time,  and  Rev.  \ym.  Roney  has  been  called  to  the 
pastorate. 


126  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

The  Association  held  its  annual  meeting  at  Clinton. 
Moderator,   E.   M.  Miles,  clerk,  Rev.  E.  C.  M.  Burnham. 

Baptisms,  45  ;  total  membership,    1534.     Rev.  T. 

W.  Powell,  from  Ohio,  has  succeeded  Bro.  Wat- 
son, at  Davenport,  and  Rev.  E.  C.  M.  Burnham  is  preach- 
ing at  Lyons.  There  are  now  16  churches  in  this  Associa- 
tion. For  a  number  of  3^ears  the  churches  becoming  extinct 
and  being  dropped  from  the  list  have  outnumbered  the 
nevv  organizations,  and  the  territory  of  the  Association  has 
remained  about  the  same,  comprising  the  counties  of  Mus- 
catine, Scott,  Clinton  and  Johnson.  The  Clinton  Church 
have  sold  the  old  meeting  house  and  propose  to  go  forward 
in  the  erection  of  a  new  one  to  cost  .siO,000,  of  which  sum 
only  $3,000  are  as  yet  provided.  Rev.  H.  A.  Guild  has 
succeeded  A.  H.  Stowell  at  Iowa  City,  and  the  name  of  M. 
T.  Lamb  appears  among  the  delegates  from  Davenport. 

Met  at  Iowa  City.  T.  W.  Powell,  Moderator,  H.  A. 
Guild,  Clerk.  Baptisms  114,  total  membership,  1606.  Dav- 
^  PP^Q  enport,  T.  W.  Powell  pastor,  has  baptized  57; 
Dewitt,  J.  Edminster,  18  ;  Lyons,  E.  C.  M.  Burn- 
ham, 12  ;  and  Muscatine,  E.  Eaton,  12.  R.  Dunlap  is  preach- 
ing at  LeClaire  and  Zion.  Rev.  E.  N.  Elton  had  been 
employed  b}^  a  committee  appointed  the  previous  year,  to 
labor  as  As#ociational  Colporteur.  He  labored  from  Octo- 
ber 1st  to  April  1st,  when  it  was  deemed  by  the  committee 
thar,  "further  efforts  in  the  same  general  direction  might 
be  dispensed  with  without  detriment  to  the  end  had  in 
view,''  and  "  the  engagement  with  Brother  Elton  was 
terminated  with  his  full  consent.  '  The  committee  con- 
sisted of  Revs.  H.  A.  Guild,  J.  Edminster,  Edwin  Eaton 
and  E.  M.  Miles.  Rev.  C.  E.  Brown,  from  a  committee 
appointed  last  year  to  prepare  and  "present  to  this  body 
a  history  of  itself,''  "presented  an  exceedingly  interesting 
document,  covering  the  first  nine  years  of  said  history. 


■.  OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  127 

The  report  was  ordered  on  file  with  the  valuable  papers  of 
the  Association,  and  Bro.  Brown,  having  performed  the 
part  assigned  him  in  the  committee  was  released  from 
further  service,  and  Rev.  E.  M.  Miles  was  added  to  the 
committee,  the  other  members  being  Dexter  P.  Smith  and 
D.  O.  Montague.  How  much  such  valuable  labor  in 
gathering  and  compiling  historical  facts  has  been  per- 
formed and  then  dropped  out  of  sight  never  again  to  see 
the  light ! 

Met  at  DeWitt.  Rev.  C.  H.  Remington,  of  Clinton, 
Moderator  and  Rev.  F.  Adkins,  of  Iowa  City,  clerk. 
These  are  both  new  pastors  in  the  Association, 
though  Bro.  Remington  had  spent  a  number  of 
years  in  this  Association  in  its  earlier  history.  Rev.  S.  H. 
D.  Vaughn  has  also  succeeded  Bro.  Edminster  at  DeWitt, 
and  Rev.  E.  P.  Savage  is  preaching  at  Lyons.  These  new 
names  yearly  are  an  index  to  the  frec^uent  changes  in  the 
pastoral  relation,  the  causes  of  which  cannot  be  discussed 
here,  but  are  the  subject  of  much  perplexity  and  the  occa- 
sion of  no  little  crippling  of  our  Church  work.  It  has 
been  another  year  of  encouraging  growth,  in  which  Daven- 
port has  reaped  the  largest  share.  Brother  Powell  reports 
74  baptisms  ;  Clinton,  Comanche  and  Iowa  City  follow 
with  14,  12  and  12  respectively.  Whole  number  of  bap- 
tisms, 134;  members,  1,679.  Downey  are  now  worshiping 
in  their  own  house  and  Rev.  A.  C.  Sangster  preaching  for 
them. 

Downey  is  the  place  of  meeting.     Rev.  N.  S.  Burton, 

D.  D.,  of  Davenport,  Moderator,  F.  Adkins,  clerk.     Bro. 

Powell's  health  failing  under  his  arduous  revival 

work,  he   is  compelled   to  resign  at  Davenport, 

and  at  his  suggestion  his  old  pastor.  Rev.  N.  S.  Burton,  of 

Ohio,  succeeds   him.     Rev.  N.  A.   Reed   has  also   become 


128  HISTOKICAL    SKETCHES 

pastor  at  Muscatine.  Fifty-four  baptisms  are  reported 
distributed  in  7  Churches,  Iowa  City,  Clinton  and  Lyons 
having  the  larger  number — 16,  11  and  18  respectively. 
Ten  of  the  17  Churches  report  no  baptisms.  Whole  num- 
ber of  members,  1,654. 

Calvary  Church,  Davenport,  is  the  entertaining  Church 
this  year.     Moderator,  Rev.  N.  A.  Reed;  clerk,  Rev.  M.  T. 

Lamb,  of  Clinton,  where  he  has  become  pastor. 

A.  F.  Sharpnack  is  reported  pastor  at  Blue 
Grass.  The  baptisms  this  year  are  only  38,  whole  number 
1,631.  A  Missionary  Committee  for  the  Association, 
appointed  last  year  consisting  of  N.  S.  Burton,  S.  H.  D. 
Vaughn,  H.  H.  Smith  and  F.  Adkins,  report  considerable 
effort  "  by  occasional  meetings  and  by  correspondence  to, 
accomplished  the  design  of  their  appointment,"  but  have 
to  report  that  ''so  far  as  the  missionary  labor  contem- 
plated is  concerned,  their  efforts  have  failed."  Tliey  re- 
commend the  holding  of  bi-monthly  meetings,  to  consist  of 
devotional  services,  etc.,  for  the  promotion  of  the  mission- 
ar}^  idea  within  the  bounds  of  the  Association. 

The  Association  met  with  the  Zion  Church,  Le  Claire 
township,  Scott  county.  Moderator,  N.  A.  Reed;  clerk, 
C.  E.  Bentley,  of  Clinton.  The  Monmouth 
Church,  Jackson  county,  H.  Holmes,  pastor,  with 
11  members  is  received  from  the  Dubuque  Association. 
The  Big  Rock  and  Wheatland  Church  received  in  1871 
keeps  its  place  with  diminishing  numbers.  Baptisms 
reported  this  year  145,  whole  number  of  members  1,745. 
Comanche,  Clinton,  Davenport  and  Muscatine  report  most 
of  the  gain.  L.  L.  Lansing  is  pastor  at  Comanche  and  G. 
W.  Lewis  at  Zion  and  Le  Claire.  Two  brethren  have  been 
ordained  in  the  Association  during  the  year,  viz:  Jacob 
Meier,  of  the  German  Baptist  Church,  Muscatine,  and  A. 


mgr  ■mssarKatma 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  129 

F.  Sharpnack,  at  Blue  Grass.  Lone  Tree  and  Solon  are 
mentioned  as  hopeful  places  for  missionary  work. 

For  tins  and  the  subsequent  years  of  this  history,  the 
compiler  is  not  in  possession  of  the  records  of  the  Asso- 
ciation   and    can   only   s:ive   such   facts   as   are 
1  RV4- 

gleaned  from  other  sources.     This  year  has  been 

one  of  great  spiritual  quickening.  Eleven  of  the  13 
Churches  report  baptisms,  aggregating  178  in  all ;  present 
membership  1,686.  Lone  Tree,  favorably  mentioned  last 
year  as  a  missionary  point,  appears  in  the  records  with  11 
baptisms  and  40  members.  Rev.  J.  Y.  Aitchison  is  pastor 
at  Clinton,  H.  N.  Millard  at  Lyons  and  G.  Parker  at  Blue 
Grass.  These  are  the  new  pastoral  arrivals.  In  1875  we 
find  Edward  Jones,  pastor,  at  Comanche,  C.  C.  Smith  at 
Clinton,  T.  W.  Powell  again  at  Davenport,  E.  T,  Hiscox 
at  Iowa  City,  G.  W.  Prescott  at  Le  Claire  and  W.  H. 
Barnes  at  Monmouth.  Baptisms  102;  membership  1,850  in 
15  Churches  with  12  pastors.  1876:  Baptisms,  41 ;  total 
membership,  1,610.  Ten  Churches  out  of  16  report  bap- 
tisms, but  none  large  numbers.  Comanche,  13,  is  the  larg- 
est. None  others  over  5.  Rev.  C.  Swift  has  succeeded  L. 
L.  Lansing  at  Comanche,  J.  C.  Douglass  is  pastor  at  De 
Witt,  and  A.  C.  Kelley  at  Downey.  Of  late  the  Churches 
are  reporting  their  financial  statistics  much  more  fully  than 
formerly,  and  the  results  are  increasingly  to  their  credit. 

No  notable  changes  among  the  pastorates  except  that 

Muscatine,  which  was  last  year  without  a  pastor,  reports 

A.  G.  Eberhart,  who  had   served  this  Church  in 
"I  pY'V' 

the  same  capacity  in  1854  and  1855.     This  has 

been  another  year  of  revivals.     One  hundred  and  eighty 

baptisms,  96  other  additions  and  a  total  membership  of 

1,750  in  15  Churches  with  13  pastors.     Muscatine  leads 

with  44  baptisms;  Davenport,  43;   several  others  ranging 


130  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

from  10  to  14.  Eleven  of  the  15  Churches  report  baptisms. 
Over  $10,500  reported  for  Home  expenses,  and  over  $2,600 
for  Benevolence. 

1878:  Fifteen  Churches,  12  pastors,  102  baptisms,  and 
1,850  members ;  contributions,  a  little  increase  over  last 
year.  Rev.  D.  T.  Richards  is  pastor  at  Muscatine.  Rev. 
F.  A.  Petereit  has  been  for  two  years  pastor  of  the  German 
Church,  Davenport,  and  now  -Rev.  G.  Chambers  reports  a 
Colored  Church  of  19  members  in  the  same  city.  1879  : 
Only  57  baptisms  reported  this  year  in  8  of  the  16  Churches  ; 
whole  number  of  members,  1804.  A  new  Church  at  Nash- 
ville appears  with  15  baptisms  and  31  members.  Rev.  W. 
H.   Stifler  has  succeeded  Pastor  Powell  at  Davenport. 

This  has  been  a  3^ear  of  evident  Spiritual  dearth,  only 
12  baptisms  are  reported  in  the  14  Churches  on  the  list. 
Doubtless,  Eternity  may  disclose  as  faithful 
work  in  sowing  seed  and  training  for  future  har- 
vesting, as  in  the  more  immediate  reaping  of  revival  3^ears. 
"The  wind  bloweth  where  itlisteth"  and,  "Thou  canst 
not  tell  whether  will  prosper  this  or  that."  Rev.  C.  C. 
Smith,  of  Clinton,  and  Rev.  E.  T.  Hiscox,  of  Iowa  City, 
each  of  whom  began  the  present  pastorate  in  1876  are  the 
only  pastors  who  date  back  more  than  one  year  or  to  1879. 
The  new  pastors  this  year  are  W.  H.  Whitelaw,  Comanche, 
Edward  Wilson,  Davenport  (Colored),  H.  W.  Wilson, 
DeWitt,  Jacob  Shutz,  Lone  Tree,  T.  A.  Maxon,  Nashville 
and  W.  L.  Wood,  Zion. 

Not  much  increase  by  conversion  for  1881.  Thirty-six 
baptisms,  1,397  members.  George  Houghton  has  become 
pastor  at  Comanche,  James  Jeffries  at  Downey  and  G.  F. 
Linfield,  at  Muscatine,  has  succeeded  BrQ.  Richards.  Emi- 
gration to  the  west  is  beginning  to  tell  upon  these  older 
fields,  visibly,  the  membership  of  this  Association  having 
fallen  off   in  two  years  from  1,804  to  1,397;  over  400  loss. 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  131 

Again  the  Spiritual  pulse  begins   to  quicken.       Pastor 
Stiller,  at  Davenport,  has  baptized  55  and  Linfield,  of  Mus- 
.  catine,  13;  other   baptisms,  20;    total,  88;    total 

;  membership,  1,368.     Rev.  H.  M.  Thompson  has 

succeeded  Pastor  Hiscox,  at  Iowa  City.  Other  pastors  are 
holding. on.  A.  H.  Lyons  appears  as  pastor  at  Monmouth 
and  Nashville  in  1883.  Baptisms  this  year,  28  ;  total  mem- 
bership, 1,281.  Pastors  nearly  all  maintaining  their 
ground.  Be  faithful,  the  reaping  time  will  come.  Four- 
teen baptisms  and  1,279  members  in  1884.  H.  D.  Weaver 
is  pastor  at  Comanche,  E.  P.  Savage  at  Clinton,  S.  E.  Wil- 
cox at  Muscatine,  and  J.  C.  Johnson  at  Downey  and  Lone 
Tree.  Again  there  is  only  one  pastor  in  the  Association 
who  has  been  with  his  Church  more  than  one  year.  Dr. 
Stiller,  at  Davenport  since  1879. 

The  Spiritual  tide  is  again  coming  in.  There  have 
been  in  the  Association  138  baptisms;  membership  1,371, 
an  increase  of  nearly  100.  Comanche,  Clinton, 
Davenport  and  Muscatine  have  been  blessed 
with  28,  53,  40  and  12  baptisms  respectively.  Rev.  F.  L. 
Wilkins  has  succeeded  Dr.  Stiller  at  Davenport,  he  having 
resigned  to  assume  the  Presidency  of  Roger  Williams' 
University,  of  Tennessee. 

As  we  close  this  chapter  the  Minutes  for  1886  have  not 
been  received.  We  are  able  to  state,  however,  that  steady 
work  is  being  pursued.  Few,  if  any,  changes  have  taken 
place  in  the  ministerial  forces.  Iowa  City,  after  an  interval 
without  a  pastor,  has  probably  been  supplied.  Daven- 
port, Muscatine,  Comanche  and  Clinton  are  ably  manned 
as  a  year  ago. 

One  ver}^  sad  record  must  close  this  chapter.  On  the 
way  home  from  the  State  Convention,  at  Cedar  Rapids, 
October  25,  the  pastor  of  the  Le  Claire  and  Zion  Churches, 


132 


HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 


Rev.  Lewis  Brasted,  fell  dead  in  the  coacli  a  few  miles  out 
of  the  city.  In  a  group  picture  of  the  ministers  present  at 
the  Convention,  taken  a  few  days  before,  the  brother  of 
the  deceased,  Rev.  B.  H.  Brasted,  appears  standing  with 
his  arms  thrown  lovingly  around  him.  That  picture  will 
remain  as  a  memorial  of  a  very  graceful  exhibition  of 
brotherly  affection.     Brethren  let  us  love  one  another. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


The  Oskaloosa  Association — At  First  Called  the  Sec- 
ond Des  Moines— The  Third  Association 
ON  Our  Records— 1851  to  1886. 

;P  to  1851  we  find  record  of  but  two  Associa- 
tions of  regular  Baptist  Churches  in  Iowa. 
These  were  the  Des  Moines,  organized  in  1838' 
and  the  Davenport,  organized  in  1842.  (But 
see  History  of  Fox  River  Association.) 

In  1851,  13  Churches  were  set  off  from  the  Des  Moines 
Association  and  called  the  Second  Des  Moines  Association. 
These  were  Agency  City,  with  42  members;  Au- 
rora, 25  ;  Brighton,  18;  Fairfield,  16;  Fox  River, 
33;  Keosauqua,  32;  Blakesburg,  35;  Knoxville,  30;  Liberty- 
ville,  26  ;  Mount  Moriah,  31 ;  Oskaloosa,  31 ;  Richland,  44; 
and  Sigourney,  38.  Of  these  Keosauqua  had  been  organ- 
ized in  1838 ;  Fox  River,  in  1842 ;  Agency  City,  in  1844 ; 
Fairfield  and  Oskaloosa,  in  1845 ;  Mount  Moriah,  in  1846  ; 
Sigourney,  in  1847;  Liberty ville,  in  1849;  Aurora,  Brighton, 
Blakesburg  and  Richland,  in  1850;  and  Knoxville,  in 
1851. 

The  next  year,  1852,  these  with  the  exception  of  Mount 


134  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Moriah,  which  disappears,  and  with  the  addition  of  Steady- 
Run,  organized  1852 ;  Cedar  Creek,  1844 ;  and  Middle 
Creek,  1852  ;  were  constituted  the  Oskaloosa  Association, 
with  15  Churches,  9  ministers  and  455  members,  of  whom 
64  had  been  baptized  within  the  year.  The  pastors  were 
Wm.  Elliott,  J.  L.  Cole,  B.  B.  Arnold,  John  Bond,  I.  C. 
Curtis,  G.  W.  Bond,  G.  W.  Olne}^  and  A.  N.  Atwood. 
The  Oskaloosa  Church  named  here  is  not  the  Church  in 
the  city  of  that  name,  which  was  not  organized  for  several 
years  after. 

Churches  16,  pastors  5,  baptized  32,  whole  number  502. 
The  name  of  J.  Mitchell  appears  among  the  ministers  as 
pastor  at  Sigourney  and  Richland,  and  that  of 
J.  Parker  at  Walnut  and  Brookville.  The  latter 
two  Churches  and  that  at  Pella.  appear  for  the  first  time, 
while  Aurora  and  Keosauqua  have  disappeared.  Two  or 
threo  small  Churches  are  added  in  1855,  and  120  baptisms 
are  reported.  Rev.  E.  H.  Scarff  is  pastor  at  Pella  and 
reports  40  baptisms  and  150  members.  C.  Bullock,  W. 
Drummond  and  J.  T.  Milner  are  new  pastors.  The  country 
Church  called  Oskaloosa  is  missed  from  the  record.  There 
are  now  627  members. 

The  number  of  Churches  has  increased  to  25;  pastors 
15;  baptized  134.     Total  934.     A  Church  has  been  organ- 

ized  at  Ottumwa  with   16  members,   Rev.  J.  T. 

Robert,  pastor;  at  Oskaloosa,  J.  P.  Chi  Ids,  pas- 
tor, 32;  Fremont,  J.  Ferguson,  36;  one  at  South  English 
with  39  members;  and  the  Little  Mount  Church  near  Mon- 
tezuma, Rev.  M.  Gregson,  pastor,  with  30  members.  Rev. 
John  Williams  has  become  pastor  at  Fairfield  and  Bright- 
on. Rev.  A.  Saladay  is  pastor  at  Fox  River,  near  Troy, 
Davis  county.  Rev.  N.  Hays  is  pastor  at  Eddyville.  In 
1857  we  find  Churches  29,  pastors  14,   baptizing  92,  whole 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  185 

number  of  members  1065.  The  largest  Churches  are 
Blakesburg  128,  and  Pel  la  193.  Rev.  Wm.  Elliott  is  pas- 
tor at  Brighton  and  Martinsburg,  and  Rev.  J.  Frey  at 
South  English.  1858  "has  been  a  year  of  the  Right  Hand 
of  the  Most  High."  The  membership  has  reached  1150,  of 
whom  264  have  been  baptized  during  the  year.  Rev.  E. 
Gunn  is  pastor  at  Pella,  and  there  is  a  Second  Pella  Church 
of  75  members,  with  Wm.  Elliott  pastor.  Rev.  J.  M.  Wood 
is  ordained  this  year  at  Glasgow  in  the  Des  Moines  Asso- 
ciation, but  is  preaching  also  in  this  Association.  Rev.  E. 
Ward  is  also  among  the  preachers. 

This  year  is  memorable  with  the  writer  of  these  Sketch- 
es as  the  one  in  which  he  was  baptized  into  the  membership 

of  the  Oskaloosa  Church  by  Rev.  J.   F.  Childs, 

1859 

the  pastor,  and  attended  his  first  meeting  of  the 

Association  at  Fremont.  There  were  reported  119  baptisms 
252  additions  from  all  sources,  and  a  total  membership  of 
1307  in  26  Churches.  All  of  these  Churches  have  been  or- 
ganized within  less  than  ten  years.  Rev.  S.  H.  Worcester 
has  assumed  charge  of  the  Ottumwa  Church  and  Wm.  and 
F.  J.  McEwen  have  entered  the  Association. 

The  year  1860  is  complained  of  as  one  of  coldness  and 
discouragement,  yet  there  are  183  baptisms  reported ;  24 
Churches,  14  pastors  and  1146  members.  Three  Churches 
have  been  dismissed  to  unite  with  the  English  River  Asso- 
ciation which  was  formed  this  year.  Of  pastors  not  before 
named  are  H.  S.  Cloud,  Bellefontaine,  and  E.  S.  Ayers, 
Blakesburg. 

The  annual  meeting  in  1861  was  held  with  the  Bluff 
Creek  Church  a  few  miles  west  of  Eddyville.  Many  of  the 
letters  lament  the  "wicked  rebellion  and  the  war  excite- 
ment as  unfavorable  to  the  cause  of  religion.'''    Churches 


138  HISTOEICAL    SKETCHES 

25,  pastors  20,  baptisms  177,  members  1247.  Rev.  I.  J. 
Stoddard  is  preachiag  at  Bellefontaine,  T.  J.  Arnold  at 
Brookville,  J.  C.  Burkholder  at  Fairfield,  and  G.  W. 
Gunnison  at  Pella.  Most  of  the  Churches  are  in  the  coun- 
try, meetinf?  in  school  houses  and  have  preaching  only 
once  a  month. 

The  writer  was  clerk  this  year.  Baptisms  123;  mem- 
bers 1,286.  Wm.  Hildretli  is  pastor  at  Blakesburg  and 
has  baptized  46.  A.  Robins,  21,  at  Lovilla, 
where  a  Church  is  received  with  66  members. 
Place  of  meeting,  Pleasant  Grove,  five  miles  south  of  Chilli- 
cothe.  We  well  remember  an  incident  of  this  anniversar}^ 
Owing  to  heavy  rains  there  were  but  very  few  delegates 
present  at  the  time  appointed.  As  it  cleared  away  and  we 
were  speculating  upon  the  probabilities  of  a  failure  of  the 
meeting,  the  question  went  round,  "Had  any  one  present 
ever  known  a  Baptist  Association  to  prove  a  failure?"  IVot 
one  had  ever  heard  of  a  case.  This  was  no  exception.  The 
weather  cleared  and  man}'  came,  though  late,  and  it  was  a 

good  meeting.     The  Association  met  in   1863  at  Fremont. 

The  war  is   telling   upon  the   condition    of  the  Churches. 

Many  of  the  best  brethren  have  gone  into  the  army.     But 

27  baptisms  are  reported  and  1,078  members.     Rev.    I.  J. 

Stoddard,   of   Pella,   is  clerk.      Only    two    Churches  now 

have  above  100  members.  In  1864  the  Association  met 
at  Pella.     Same  clerk  as  last  year.     Baptisms  57;  members 

981  in  18  Churches. 

Met  at  Oskaloosa.      J.  O.  Wilson,  of  Eddyville,  clerk. 
A  little  increase;  91  baptisms;  1,041  members.     Rev.  J.  O. 
Wilson,   from   Muscatine,  recently  ordained,  is 
preaching  at  Eddyville.     This  brother   did  not 
remain  long  in   the  ministry,  but  owing  to  financial  bur- 
dens deemed  it  duty  to  resort  to  business,  for  which  he 


K.   K.   LEWIS. 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  137 

seemed  to  have  special  qualifications,  and  never  returned 
to  the  ministry.  Of  the  91  baptisms,  60  were  reported  from 
Lovilla,  where  E.  B.  Hicks,  a  licentiate,  was  preaching. 
The  writer  baptized  25  for  him  in  one  day. 

Met  at  Lovilla,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Monroe 
county.  The  writer  was  again  clerk.  On  arriving  upon 
the  ground  it  seemed  that  no  preparation  had 
been  made  to  entertain  delegates;  the  weather 
was  lowering,  and  the  outlook  was  forbidding  enough. 
But  the  skies  cleared,  houses  were  opened,  and  before  we 
were  through  it  was  agreed  that  we  had  had  a  splendid 
meeting.  There  are  now  but  17  Churches;  9  pastors; 
105  baptisms  reported;  and  1,028  members.  Rev.  S.  L. 
Burnham  lias  removed  from  Muscatine,  and  is  pastor  at 
Ottumwa.  In  1867  the  Association  met  at  Ottumwa;  152 
baptisms;  1,142  members.  Among  the  baptisms  are  35  at 
Ottumwa;  25  at  Eddy  ville,  J.  T.  Wilson,  pastor;  and  37  at 
Mt.  Carmel,  where  Rev.  J.  Ferguson  is  preaching.  Of  the 
16  Churches,  6  have  meeting  houses,  viz.:  Blakesburg,  Ed- 
dy ville,  Lovilla,  Mt.  Carmel,  Oskaloosa  and  Ottumwa.  R. 
M.  Tracy,  a  former  member  of  the  Oskaloosa  Church,  is 
preaching  at  Brookville,  and  at  points  in  the  English  River 
Association,  with  marked  success. 

But  few  changes.  Rev.  R.  A.  Clapp  is  preaching  at 
Ottumwa,  and  Rev.  J.  F.  Childs  having  resigned  to  give 
his  entire  time  to  convention  work,  Oskaloosa  is 
without  a  pastor.  Rev.  John  Williams  having 
returned  to  the  vicinity  of  his  old  field  has  been  preaching 
the  last  three  years  at  Ashland.  There  are  now  16  churches; 
i  1  pastors;  82  baptisms  during  the  year;  and  1,059  mem- 
]jers.  In  1869,  John  Williams,  ^loderator,  J.  L.  Cole, 
clerk.  J.  Kingdon  is  pastor  at  Oskaloosa.  J.  Cheetman  and 
Rev.  Wm.  Stonaker   are  among  the  pastors,  the  latter  at 


138  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Eddyville.  Churches  18,  baptisms  62.  Total  1,067.  For 
1870  but  little  change  since  last  year;  64  baptisms.  Os- 
kaloosa  is  a^^ain  without  a  pastor,  Mr.  Kingdon  having 
remained  but  for  a  short  time.  Rev.  E.  H.  Scarff  has  been 
for  several  years  supplying  the  Pella  Church  acceptably, 
while  teaching  in  the  Central  University. 

Rev.  J.  F.  Childs  has  returned  to  Oskaloosa.  Rev.  R. 
A.  Clapp  has  resigned  at  Ottumwa.     Rev.  J.  R.  Shanafelt 

is  preaching  at  Pella  and  Nine  Mile.     Rev.  W. 

N.  Whitaker  at  Batavia.  N.  Hafs  at  Ashland, 
and  W.  L.  jMiller  at  Frederick.  Churches  17;  baptisms  40; 
members  1,141.  In  1872  there  were  Churches  18;  pastors 
9;  baptisms  132;  members  reported  1,069.  H.  G.  Cur- 
tis, of  Pella,  is  clerk.  Pella  the  place  of  meeting.  Rev. 
J.  R.  Shanafelt  is  preaching  at  Brookville  and  at  Fair- 
field, in  the  Burlington  Association.  Rev.  E.  C.  Spinney, 
at  Pella;  Rev.  C.  Darbey,  at  Ottumwa;  J.  H.  Miller  is  at 
Ashland,  and  W.  L.  Miller,  at  Blakesburg,  Frederick  and 
Pleasant  Grove,  R.  M.  Tracy  has  baptized  53  at  Forest 
Home,  and  has  the  largest  church  membership  in  the 
Association,  178. 

Met  at  Forest  Home.  J.  F.  Childs,  clerk;  95  baptisms; 
1,158  members.  About  the  only  notable  changes  are  that 
Rev.  W.  L.  Brown  has  succeeded  Bro.  Darbey  as 
pastor  at  Ottumwa,  and  T.  L.  Crandall  is  at 
Richland.  Pella,  E.  C.  Spinney  still  pastor,  has  baptized 
52,  and  Eddyville  reports  21.  Rev.  Wm.  Stonaker  has 
held  on  here  since  1869. 

Pleasant  Point  is  the  place  of  meeting.  Same  clerk  as 
the  last  two  years.  Only  six  pastors  for  the  18  churches. 
Nevertheless  pastoral  work  must  have  been  done  in  several 
other  churches  part  of  the  year.  Abingdon  reports  24 
baptisms  and  no  pastor;  Brookville  6;  Forest  Home  9.     A 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  139 

part  of  tlie  above  presumably  the  work  of  Brotlier  Tracy. 
Pella  also  reports  10  baptisms  and  no  pastor,  Brother 
Spinney  having  returned  east  to  finish  his  studies.  He 
will  be  heard  of  again  in  Iowa.  Brother  Brown  lias  bap- 
tized 31  at  Ottnmwa,  and  Pastor  Stonaker,  15  at  Eddyville. 
Baptisms  in  all,  103.     Total  membership,  1,149. 

Pella  is  the  entertaining  Church,  Rev.  J.  Sunderland, 
clerk.     Rev.   T.   ^Y.   Powell  has  become  jDastor  at   Pella. 

Rev.  H.  R.   Mitchell  at  Oskaloosa,   Rev.    J.  F 

1875 

Childs  is  preaching  at  Nine  Mile,  C.  Martin  at 

Brookville,  John  Williams  at  Bladensburg — a  new  interest 
with  11  members — and  J.  Z.  Zimmerman  at  Abingdon, 
Blakesburg,  and  Forest  Home.  Bro.  Sunderland  has  suc- 
ceeded Brother  Brown  at  Ottumwa.  Baptisms  21  ;  total 
membership   1196  in  19  Churches,  with  9  pastors. 

Meets  at  Ottumwa.  J.  Sunderland  Clerk.  Baptisms 
46,  total  membership  1203.  A  new  interest  has  been  start- 
ed at  New  Sharon  and  Rev.  J.  F.  Childs  is 
preaching  there  and  at  Nine  Mile,  Leighton, 
Post  office.  Rev.  G.  W.  Hertzog  is  preaching  at  Ashland, 
and  Batavia,  F.  J.  McEwen  at  Frederick,  Wm.  Stonaker  at 
Competine,  J.  Ferguson  at  Pleasant  Grove,  Post  office  Fred- 
erick, and  T.  Davis  at  Pleasant  Point,  Albia  Post  office. 
The  last  two  should  have  been  named  in  the  same  connec- 
tion last  year. 

Ashland  has  the  privilege  of  greeting  the  Association 
this  year.  Rev.  H.  R.  Mitchell  Clerk.  Rev.  A.  J.  Fur- 
man  has  become  pastor  at  Oskaloosa,  succeeding 
Bro.  H.  R.  Mitchell,  who  is  now  pastor  at  Pella. 
Rev.  Felix  Dickerson  is  preaching  at  Frederick.  Brother 
Furman  reports  36  baptisms  at  Oskaloosa,  Pastor  Sunder- 
land 28  at  Ottumwa,  Bro.  Mitchell  43  at  Pella  and  Dicker- 


140  HISTOEICAL    SKETCHES 

son,  13  at  Frederick.     Whole  number  of  baptisms  189  ;  to- 
tal membership  1231. 

In  1878  Competine  has  the  Anniversary.  Rev.  Wm. 
Stonaker,  clerk.  Only  18  baptisms  are  reported  from  the 
20  churches,  and  only  7  pastors  ;  total  membership  1151. 
These  figures  tell  their  own"  story.  But  let  us  not  mis- 
interpret them,  nor  undervalue  the  faithful  work  of 
holding  on  and  seed  sowing.  The  harvest  time  will  sure- 
ly come  again.  Rev.  Charles  Pa3^ne  has  become  pastor 
at  Pella,  while  H.  R.  Mitchell  has  returned  to  the  east. 
"  We  have  no  abiding  city  here.  ■' 

Annual  meeting  at  Frederick.  Rev.  J.  W.  McMahill, 
clerk.  Only  8  baptisms;  members  1041.  Rev.  R.  M.  Tra- 
cy  has  returned  to  the  charge  at  Abingdon  and 
Competine.  J.  W.  McMahill  is  preaching  at 
Blakesburg,  Cedar  Creek,  and  Washington;  this  last  a 
new  church  with  22  members  and  6  of  the  18  baptisms. 
Rev.  S.  West  is  preaching  at  Nine  Mile,  J.  Sunderland  is 
still  at  Ottumwa,  and  Charles  Payne  at  Pella. 

Brookville  is  the  entertaining  Churcli  in  1880.  A.  N. 
Cain,  clerk.  Fifty-nine  baptisms  ot  which  40  are  at  Com- 
petine. R.  M.  Tracy  still  pastor.  S.  E.  Nelson  is  preach- 
ing at  Abingdon,  and  has  baptized  7  of  the  remaining  18. 
Rev.  A.  E.  Simons  has  become  pastor  at  Oskaloosa  after 
an  interval  without  a  preacher,  and  ^Geo.  E.  Tufts  suc- 
ceeds Bro.  Sunderland  at  Ottumwa.  Bro.  Sunderland  has 
become  General  Missionary  of  the  State  Convention  and 
Home  Mission  Society. 

Met  again  at  Ottumwa.     Rev.    T.   F.  Thickstun  of  Pel- 
la is  clerk      Brother  Charles  Payne  resigned  to  return  to 
England,  and  Brother  Thickstun  succeeds    him 
as   pastor   at   Pella.     Only    three  baptisms  are 
reported  in  the  entire  Association.     This  is  a  very   un- 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  1.41 

usual  barrenness.  Total  membership  947;  7  pastors,  14 
cliurclies.  Rev.  G.  S.  Bailey  has  become  pastor  at  Ottum- 
wa,  and  they  are  moving,  or  soon  to  do  so,  to  build  a  more 
commodious  meeting  house,  in  a  very  desirable  location. 
Oskaloosa  has  bought  the  old  Presbyterian  church  and 
very  much  improved  their  condition. 

Oskaloosa  is  the  entertaining  Church  in  1882.  T.  F. 
Thickstun  clerk.  Some  improvement  this  year  in  fruit- 
gathering.  Competine,  R.  M.  Tracy  yet  pastor,  report  42 
baptized,  Ottumwa  15,  Pellal9;  whole  number  baptized 
82;  total  membership  1005.  Rev.  H.  Shallenberger  is 
preaching  at  Abingdon,  Batavia  and  Brookville,  and  Rev. 
B.  P.  Mace  at  Albia.  Only  six  pastors  in  the  Associa- 
tion. Oskaloosa  is  again  vacant.  Pella  has  now  the 
largest  membership,  215;  Competine  comes  next  with  180, 
Ottumwa  170  and  Oskaloosa  136.  These  are  all  that  have 
over  100. 

Met  at  Pella.  T.  P.  Thickstun  still  clerk.  W.  H. 
Dorward  is  pastor  at  Oskaloosa,  the  only  material  change 
in  the  pastoral  force.  Forty-seven  baptisms  and  1,018 
members  in  11  Churches,  with  8  pastors.  Pella  reports 
27  of  the  baptisms.  In  1884,  Competine  was  the  place 
of  meeting.  A.  IS.  Cain,  clerk.  Baptisms  58,  of  wliich 
number  Oskaloosa  reports  21;  Pella  19  and  Ottumwa 
7.  A  new  Church  is  reported  at  Hedrick.  Oskaloosa  is 
again  without  a  pastor,  and  there  are  only  5  in  the  Asso- 
ciation. Total  membership  in  11  Churches  984.  In  1885 
Hedrick  is  the  place  of  the  gathering  tribes.  S.  A. 
Swiggett,  clerk.  Twenty-seven  baptisms;  present  member- 
ship 918.  Rev.  James  Prey  is  preaching  at  Competine  and 
reports  20  of  the  27  baptisms  in  the  Association. 

Thus  has  been  traced  the  history  of  the  Oskaloosa 
Baptist  Association  from  1851  to  1885,  a  period  of  30  years. 


142  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Like  every  other  organization  it  has  had  its  own  peculiar- 
ities. One  peculiarity  of  this  field  has  been  that  most  of 
the  Churches,  especially  in  the  earlier  parts  of  its  history, 
were  organized  in  the  country,  often,  only  a  short  distance 
out  of  the  towns.  In  the  older  States,  and  in  earlier  days, 
many  strong  Churches  have  grown  up  and  made  enduring 
history  in  the  rural  districts.  But  in  Iowa  we  have  suc- 
ceeded in  maintaining  very  few  even  comparatively  strong 
Churches  away  from  the  centres  of  population.  As  a 
consequence  of  the  policy  referred  to  the  Churches  in  the 
towns  have,  with  few  exceptions,  remained  also  weak. 
Another  peculiarity  has  been  that  the  centres  of  this  dis- 
trict Association,  notabl}'  Oskaloosa  itself,  has  been  for 
the  most  part  of  its  history,  a  sort  of  drill  camp  for 
other  fields  of  work.  Being  the  point  where  the  lines  of 
emigration  from  the  Mississippi  River  westward  converged 
to  a  sort  of  focus,  mau}^  emigrants  would  settle  here  for  a 
time  and  then  move  on  westward.  A  portion  of  these 
would  be  absorbed  into  the  Church,  and  it  is  hoped  be 
drilled  here  for  work  to  be  taken  up  further  on,  so  that 
while  the  Churcli  has  always  remained  weak,  it  may  have 
filled  a  relatively  large  place  in  the  year's  work,  of  which 
it  is  seemingly  a  small  part.  The  same  may  be  true,  in  a 
measure,  of  the  small  Churches  that  have  sprung  up  in 
country  neighborhoods,  to  exist  for  awhile  and  die  out. 
The  candle  stick — the  light  bearer— has  been  removed  but 
the  lights  have  been  multiplied  many  fold. 

The  growth  of  the  Church  at  Bella,  owing  to  the  inter- 
est centering  in  the  Central  Universit}^  there,  was  almost 
phenomenal  for  a  time,  buL  with  other  changes  there  were 
afterwards  great  fluctuations.  For  instance,  in  1857  they 
reported  193  members  and  in  1869,  12  years  later,  only  83. 
But  who  can  estimate  the  good  that  may  have  been  accom- 
plished even  through   the  dispersion  of  the  elements  thus 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  143 

gathered  and  drilled  for  work.     Another  12  years,  however, 
and  in  1880  this  same  Church  numbers  182. 

The  history  of  this  Association  would  be  incomplete 
without  a  further  mention  of  Rev.  J.  F.  Childs.  the  pastor 
at  Oskaloosa  from  1856  to  1866,  and  at  intervals  thereafter; 
serving  the  Church  and  the  State  Convention  at  the  same 
time;  often  giving — with  the  consent  and  approval  of  the 
Church — ^fuU  one  quarter  of  the  year  to  work  for  the  Con- 
vention, while  acting,  through  all  the  years  as  its  Corre- 
sponding Secretary,  and  all  the  time  with  a  very  small 
salary.  It  is  doubtful  if  any  man  in  Iowa  did  more  self- 
sacrificing  and  arduous  toil  for  the  denomination  and 
the  Master,  during  the  15  years  from  1855  to  1870,  than  did 
Brother  Childs.  Being  a  member  of  his  Church  during  all 
the  time  of  the  writer's  service  as  General  Missionary  and 
Financial  Agent  of  the  Convention,  and  being  associated 
with  him  in  the  financial  details  of  the  work,  we  can  bear 
witness  to  the  fidelity  and  sacrifice  of  those  years.  Often 
the  hours  have  been  spent  in  his  study  till  midnight  in 
careful  inspection  of  the  finances,  and  planning  for  the 
most  efi^ective  prosecution  of  the  work.  It  has  been  our 
lot  to  meet  few  men  who  had  greater  endurance,  and  who 
seemed  to  court  hard  work  more  than  he.  Taking  charge 
of  the  Church  at  Oskaloosa  in  its  infancy,  in  1856,  and 
almost  at  his  own  charges  serving  them  as  pastor,  not  spar- 
ing his  own  means  in  order  to  secure  them  a  house  of  wor- 
ship, it  was  two  and  one-half  years  before  he  sought  or 
accepted  aid  from  the  Home  Mission  Society.  He  received 
his  first  appointment  from  the  Society  in  1858,  and  was 
aided  for  six  years.  During  all  the  time  of  his  pastorate 
here  he  was  an  active  agent  in  whatever  effected  the  inter- 
est and  growth  of  the  Oskaloosa  Association. 

Mention  should  also  be  made,  in  order  to  complete  this 


144 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 


record,  of  the  active  influence  of  Rev.  E.  H.  Scarfl'  and  Rev. 
Eliliu  Gunn,  and  their  families,  lono?  connected  with  the 
Central  University  of  Pella,  and  of  Rev.  I.  J.  Stoddard  and 
family,  returned  missionary  from  Assam,  India.  All  these 
brethren  whether  active  pastors  of  churches  in  the  Associa- 
tion or  not  were  always  living  factors  in  its  life,  and  with 
others  connected  with  the  University,  contributed  to  its  effi- 
ciency as  a  Missionary  Association.  The  record  of  the 
Pella  Church  has  always  been  high,  especially  in  contri- 
butions to  Foreio;n  Missions. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


The  Fox   River  Association — Organized    in   1849— Is 
Found  on  our  Records  in  1855 — 1855  to  1886. 

jHE  first  appearance  of  the  Fox  River  Associa- 
ation  in  our  denominational  records  is  in 
1855.  In  a  foot  note  in  the  Convention  min- 
utes for  1854  there  Is  mention  of  such  a  body, 
*'vvhose  churches"  it  is  said  "though  not  for- 
mally connected  with  the  Convention,  occupy 
similar  ground  with  their  Baptist  brethren  generally  in  the 
State.  "  It  was  said  to  comprise  17  Churches,  7  pastors,  69 
persons  baptized  in  1854,  and  628  members.  In  1855  there 
are  15  Churches,  6  pastors,  61  baptisms  reported  and  578 
members.  In  subsequent  tables  this  Association  is  said  to 
have  been  organized  in  1849.  As  nearly  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained, when  first  organized  tliey  were  not  in  full  sympathy 
with  the  missionary  ideas  of  our  denomination  :  were  in 
fact  an  Association  of  Old- School  Baptist  Churches.  The 
Churches  connected  with  the  body  when  it  became  identi- 
fied with  us  in  1855  were  North  Union  with  51  members, 
Chequest  Union,  52,  Zion,  18,  Centerville,  47,  Bloomfield  23, 
Liberty,  44,  Salem,  39,  North  Fabius,  53,  Bethlehem,  88. 
New  Hope.  34,  Pleasant  Grove,  20,  Lebanon,  14,  Mars  Hill, 
32,  Concord,  23,  and  Mount  Pleasant,  40.  Of  the  above 
named  Churches,  the  first  two  were  organized  in  1849,  the 
third  in  1850,  Centerville,   Bloomfield,  Liberty  and  North 


146  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Fabius  in  1851,  Betlilehem,  Pleasant  Grove,  and  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant in  1852,  Mars  Hill  in  1853,  and  Concord  in  1854.  Of 
these  the  North  Fabius  Church,  with  W.  Seamster,  pastor, 
reports  in  1855,  18  baptisms,  and  Bethlehem,  Sharon  Post 
office,  A.  Thompson,  23.  TJie  pastors  are  H.  Dooley,  Abel 
Edwards,  J.  W.  Osborne,  J.  Ferguson,  W.  Seamster  and  A. 
Thompson. 

The  Churches  remain  tlie  same  except  that  Salem  has 

dropped  out  and  Union  is  added  witli  87  members.     The 

Fremont  Church   in    the  Oskaloosa  Association 

1  Q  p:  c 

seems  to  have  talven  the  place  of  the  Salem 
Church.  Rev.  D.  H.  Paul  is  preaching  at  Bloomfield  in  1856, 
I.  Newland  at  Liberty,  A.  Smock  at  Mars  Hill,  and  J.  W. 
Osborne  at  Concord.  Abel  Edwards  of  Drakeville  is  clerk 
of  the  Association,  and  the  plaCe  of  meeting  North  Fabius, 
ten  miles  south  of  Bloomfield.  Baptisms  55,  total  mem- 
bership 630.  Of  the  baptisms  Chequest  Union  reports  13, 
Liberty  9  and  North  Fabius  25,  In  1857  the  annual  meet- 
ing was  at  Bloomfield.  Rev.  Abel  Edwards  is  still  clerk. 
D.  H.  Paul  is  laboring  at  Bloomfield  un.der  appointment  of 
the  Convention  Board.  Lebanon  Church,  Drakeville  Post- 
office,  disappears ;  also  Bethlehem,  Sharon  Post  office. 
There  are  now  13  Churches,  6  pastors,  114  baptisms,  and 
584  members.  Besides  pastors  that  have  been  before  named 
we  find  J.  Farquarson  at  Mars  Hill,  and  F.  J.  McEwen  at 
Mt.  Pleasant.  The  chief  ingatherings  by  baptism  have 
been  Chequest  Union  34,  North  Fabius  24,  Mars  Hill  27, 
Concord  10  and  Union  7. 

Mars  Hill  is  the  place  of  meeting.    D.  V.  Lewis  is  clerk. 

Six  new  Churches  are  added,  and  the  year  has  been  one  of 
prosperity.  J.  L.  Cole,  G.  J.  Line,  J.  T.  Milner, 
B.  Ogle,  and  J.  Parker  are  new  pastors.     There 

are  now  20  Churches,  10  pastors,  130  Baptisms  reported 


OF    rOWA   BAPTISTS.  147 

and  842  members.  In  1859  this  Association  met  at  Con- 
cord, September  23d,  D.  V.  Lewis  clerk.  There  were  19 
Churches,  11  pastors,  55  baptisms  and  812  members.  Rev. 
E.  Kinman  appears  as  pastor  at  Bloomfield  and  Mars 
Hill,  A.  J.  Hopkins  at  Pulaski,  C.  Daughters  at  Little  Fox 
River,  and  W.  H.  Turton  at  Indiai^Prairie,  Lebanon  Post 
Office.  Of  these  Brother  Kinman  especially  is  long  to  be 
an  important  factor  in  this  Association. 

Meets  with  the  Liberty  Church  13  miles  southwest  of 
Bloomfield.  Clerk  same  as  for  the  last  two  years.  A  fruit- 
ful  year;  164  baptisms  being  reported,  of  which 
Chequest  Union  reports  37,  Mount  Pleasant  31, 
North  Union  31  and  Zion  20,  with  several  others  smaller 
numbers.  Mention  is  made  of  four  ministers  ordained,  but 
we   have  no  means  of  knowing  who  they  were.     Rev.  J, 

C.  Burkholder  is  preaching  at  Centerville.  One  small 
Church,  Freedom,  with  10  members  organized  this  year. 
Clerk  says  in  a  report  to  the  State  Convention;  "We  had 
the  pleasure  of  hearing  our  gifted  brother  G.  J.  Johnson 
of  Fort  Madison  for  the  first  time  at  our  Association,  and 
the  presence  of  several  visiting  brethren  contributed  to 
the  interest  of  our  session."  The  present  membership  is 
935  in  19  Churches  with  ten  pastors. 

Chequest  Union  is  the  place  of  the  annual  convocation. 

D.  V.  Lewis,  clerk.  But  little  change.  Baptisms  are 
-.  PP^  -,         reported  in  12  of  the  19  Churches,  aggregating  54. 

Total  membership  933.  Rev.  J.  Redburn  is  pas- 
tor at  Centerville.  In  1862  the  Association  met  with  the 
North  Union  Church.  Lewis  still  clerk.  Rev.  R.  T.  Peak 
appears  as  pastor  at  Bloomfield.  Baptisms  49,  total  mem- 
bership 923.  A  new  Church  called  Hopeville,  Blakesburg 
Postoffice,  appears  with  16  members.     Organized  1861. 

The   annual   meeting   was   held  with    the   New   Hope 


148  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Church,   12  miles  east  of  Centerville.     Elder  John  Red- 
burn,  Moderator.     The  clerk,  D.  V.  Lewis,  being 

-1    p  O  Q  ■  ''    ;■  cj 

absent,  A.  F.  Haines  was  elected  clerk  this 
year.  Baptisms  32;  total  membership  891.  Nearly  at  a 
stand  still.  The  writer  of  these  Sketches  met  with  the 
Fox  River  Association  for  the  first*  time,  as  agent  of  the 
State  Convention  and  was  cordially  received,  though 
there  had  been  some  doubt  as  to  the  reception  of  Mission- 
ary Agents  in  this  quarter.  The  Minutes  say  it  was 
"decided  that  Bi'other  S.  H.  Mitchell  be  j)ermitted  to 
speak."  Of  course  the  permission  was  to  speak  in  behalf 
of  the  missionary  work,  which  he  was  here  to  represent. 
The  Constitution  ot  the  Association  then  in  force  had  this 
article,  Art.  lOt/i.  "Each  Church  and  member  of  this  Asso- 
ciation shall  be  left  free  to  act  or  not  to  act  on  benevolent 
institutions,  and  it  shall  be  no  bar  to  fellowship."  His- 
tory would  not  be  true  to  itself  did  it  not  make  note  of  the 
effects  of  the  prevailing  idea  in  organizations  upon  the 
life  and  perpetuity  of  the  same.  At  another  place  we  may 
do  this  more  fully  as  to  the  attitude  of  our  Churches  and 
Associations  toward  the  mis.slonary  idea.  It  need  only  to 
be  said  here,  that  notwithstanding,  anti-mission  teaching 
had  prevailed  in  this  Association  in  its  earlier  history, 
and  its  effects  will  be  manifest  yet  for  a  long  time  to  come, 
as  noble  spirits  are  to  be  found  here  as  elsewhere  and 
the  future  life  of  our  institutions  of  benevolent  Christianity 
is  always  in  the  keeping  of  these  noble  spirits.  The 
records  show  a  response  to  the  appeals  of  the  State  Con- 
vention in  1863  of  30.80,  against  11.36  in  1862  and  20.74  in 
1861. 

The  obituary  report  of  this  year  mentions  the  depart- 
ure to  his  reward  ot  one  who,  though  never  known  in  the 
flesh  by  the  writer,  yet  came  to  be  known  by  the  testimony 
he  had  left  in  all  this  region,  as  one  of  God's  noblemen. 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  149 

This  was  Elder  Abraliain  SmocJi.  He  had  been  for  several 
years  "Moderator  of  this  Association,  and  was  much 
beloved  by  all  who  knew  him.''  "He  had  give*  two  sons 
to  the  service  of  his  country,  and  although  at  that  age  of 
life  when  one  clings  with  greater  tenacity  to  home  and  the 
retirements  of  private  life,  he  left  his  quiet  retreat  and  the 
peaceful  duties  of  the  ministry,  and  entered  the  service," 
where  "he  died  of  disease  in  Camp  McClellan,  with  the 
words  of  faith  and  triumph  on  his  lips,  trusting  in  the 
Lord  Jesus." 

The  Association  met  at  Centerville.  Elder  John  Red- 
burn,  Moderator,  D.  \.  Lewis  again  clerk.  It  is  a  time  of 
great  spiritual  barrenness.  Only  9  baptisms 
are  reported  for  the  year.  Eighteen  Churches 
and  708  members.  The  distracted  condition  of  the  country 
absorbs  everything.  Nowhere  were  there  stronger  feelings 
of  sympathy  and  loyalty  to  the  Government  than  here  on 
the  border.  But  it  is  sad  to  relate  that  those  to  whom 
this  remark  would  apply  were  sometimes  in  the  minority, 
and  there  was  very  strong  opposition — in  most  part  from 
conscientious  motives — to  any  expression  of  sympathy  and 
devotion  to  the  Government,  in  religious  bodies.  This 
meeting  of  the  Fox  River  Association  at  Centerville,  in 
1864,  is  remembered  as  a  critical  period.  It  was  a  time  that 
"tried"  some  "men's  souls.''  A  reminiscence  of  it  may 
appear  in  another  place.  The  writer,  with  a  vivid  recol- 
lection of  the  discussions  of  that  session,  is  surprised  to 
turn  to  the  Convention  Treasurer's  report  of  the  year  and 
find  a  credit  of  $20.25  as  the  response  to  his  appeal  at  the 
Association. 

Met  at  Chequest  Union,  Davis  county.     D.  V.  Lewis, 

clerk.      Churches  17;   pastors  13;   baptisms  24;  members 

686.     Among   the   pastors   of   former   years   not 

before  mentioned,  were  A.   Saladay  and  A.   P. 


150  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Berry.  The  latter  does  not  appear  this  year.  New  names 
in  the  pastorate  are  J.  W.  Bolster,  Centerville,  J.  A.  Clark, 
East  Shoal  Creek,  T.  W.  Wisdom,  Hopewell  and  Mount 
Pleasant,  E.  Carey,  Liberty,  F.  M.  Fenton,  New  Hope,  and 
E  A.  Packard  and  D.  Richards,  Union  and  Zion  respec- 
tively. 

In  1866  the  Association  met  at  North  Fabius,  9  ndles 
south  of  Bloomfield.  The  veteran  clerk  still  at  the  helm. 
Few  Associations  have  ever  had  a  better  clerk  than  D.  V. 
Lewis.  There  are  some  more  hopeful  indications  in  the 
Association.  One  or  two  new  Churches  added.  Baptisms 
50;  total  membership  in  19  Churches  738.  Added  from  all 
sources  129.  New  pastors  J.  T.  Gunter,  Chariton  Kiver, 
A.  Huckaby,  W.  B.  Shoemake  and  J.  H.  Pry.  The  Fox 
River  Association  runs  up  its  contribution  to  the  work  of 
the  Convention  this  year  to  $79.75. 

Met  with  the  Concord  Cliurch,  9  miles  northwest  of 
Centerville.  No  change  of  clerk.  Nineteen  Churches, 
12  pastors,  142  baptisms,  915  members:  239  added 
from  all  sources.  The  reports  indicate  a  good 
degree  of  prosperity,  much  better  than  for  several  years 
past.  Rev.  Arthur  Stott  is  pastor  at  Centerville,  and  P. 
Inskeep  at  Milton.  Ten  of  the  19  Churches  have  meet- 
ing houses.  A  number  begin  to  report  contributions  and 
Sabbath  School  statistics.  The  next  year,  1868,  the  annual 
meeting  was  at  Milton.  The  only  report  found  in  accessi- 
ble records  this  year  is  that  of  contributions  to  the  State 
Convention,  amounting  to  $84.85.  This  indicates  a  good 
degree  of  life. 

In  1869  the  place  of  meeting  is  not  known.  Rev.  E. 
Kinman  was  Moderator,  Jesse  Reckner,  clerk.  Churches 
20 ;  pastors  17 ;  baptisms  77  ;  members  1,044.  The  largest 
number  of  baptisms  is  at  Bethel,  T.  W.  Wisdom,  pastor,  24. 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  151 

The  next  largest,  New  Hope,  A.  P.  Berry,  10.  The  contri- 
butions to  the  State  Convention  this  year  reached  $1'\6.50. 
This  is  probably  the  high  water  mark  of  contributions 
in  the  Fox  River  Association. 

Met  at  Monterey.  Jesse  Reckner  is  again  clerk. 
Churches  21,  pastors  10,  baptisms  150,  members  1109.  But 
little  change  of  the  working  forces.  Many  of  the 
pastors  change  Churches  within  the  Association 
almost  yearly.  These  changes  the  historian  does  not 
attempt  to  note.  But  the  pastoral  forces  in  the  Association 
remain  nearly  the  same.  A  few  have  remained  with  some 
permanence  in  one  place,  notably  Rev.  R.  T.  Peak  at 
Bloomfield.  The  number  of  baptisms  and  their  distribu- 
tion among  14  of  the  21  Churches,  indicate  more  than  usual 
fruitfulness  in  the  year's  work.  Also  the  number  in  indi- 
vidual Churches  shows  quite  extended  revivals  in  some 
parts  of  the  field.  Bethel,  Rev.  T.  W.  AVisdom  pastor, 
reports  36  ;  Hope  Church,  Rev.  J.  H.  Miller,  23;  Bethle- 
hem, F.  M.  Fenton,  17 ;  and  several  others  range  from  7  to  15. 

Chariton  River  Church  has  the  privilege  of  entertaining 
this  year,  Jesse  Reckner  still  clerk.  21  Churches,  14  pas- 
tors,  74  baptisms  and  1106  members,  140  added 
ill  all  ways.  Only  three  of  the  21  Churches  have 
been  organized  since  1865.  Most  of  the  Churches  in  this 
Association  are  found  in  Davis  and  Appanoose  counties 
with  perhaps  the  south  part  of  Monroe.  The  annual 
meeting  in  1872  was  at  East  Shoal  Creek.  No  account  of 
this  meeting  comes  down  to  us  by  the  only  sources  at  hand  ; 
neither  of  the  work  of  the  year.  Ir,  is  suggestive  of  a 
breaking  up  somewhat  of  relations  that  were  cultivated 
with  marked  benefit  to  the  cause  a  few  years  ago,  that  only 
15.00  went  from  this  entire  Association  to  the  work  of  the 
State  Convention  in  1872. 


152  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

By  the  organization  of  the  Centerville  Association  on  the 
west  part  of  its  field  the  territory  of  this  Association  is  re- 
duced  to  about  one  half  its  former  extent  and 
the  number  of  its  Churches  to  18  with  6  pastors, 
and  628  members,  of  whom  83  were  baptized  during  the 
year.  The  pastors  are  E.  Kinman,  J.  Ripley,  B.  F.  Ford, 
S.  E.  JN'elson,  J.  W.  Seamster,  and  A.  Saladay,  serving  re- 
spectively the  Floris  and  North  Union,  the  Hopewell,  the 
Liberty  and  New  Hope,  the  Milton,  the  North  Fabius,  and 
West  Grove  Churches  in  the  order  named.  The  Bloom- 
field,  Bethlehem,  Chequest  Union,  Providence  and  Zion 
Churches  are  without  pastors.  Brother  Reckner  still 
serves  tlie  Association  as  clerk.  We  have  missed  from  the 
roll  of  pastors  now  for  two  or  three  years  the  name  of  our 
esteemed  brother  R.  T.  Peak.  Few  ministers  have  a  more 
honored  record,  none  a  purer.  Of  the  anniversary  of  1874 
which  was  to  take  place  at  Bethlehem  we  have  no  account. 

Churches  12,  pastors  6,  baptisms  26,  membership  571.  It 
is  something  like  a  bereavement  to  find  so  meagre  a  record 
and  no  representation  at  all  in  our  State  Mission- 
^^■^^-  ary  work.  1876  is  not  reported.  For  1877  the 
clerk,  Jesse  Reckner,  reports  September  28,  1877,  the  fol- 
lowing statistics:  Churches  11,  Baptisms  65,  lotal  member- 
ship 590,  pastors  7  The  pastor  at  Bloomfield  is  Rev.  J.  B. 
Edmonson.  He  is  the  step-son  of  Rev.  R.  T.  Peak.  He 
will  honor  the  exemplary  family  in  which  he  was  raised. 
The  Association  falls  into  line  again  with  a  contribution  to 
the  State  Convention  of  $8.65. 

Place  of  meeting  Bloomfield,  September  21,  1878.  A 
measure  of  prosperity  seems  dawning  again.     Churches  11, 

pastors   7,  baptisms   123,   members   692.      J.    B. 

Edmonson  reports  at  Bloomfield  86  baptized ; 
Wm.  Beard  10  a  Beulah,  a  new  Church,  and   17  at  Hope- 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  163 

well ;  Rev.  J.  W.  Seamster  39  at  Providence.  In  1879  the 
meetina-  wns  at  Hopewell  Church,  September  27,  Jesse 
Reckner  clerk  still.  10  Churches,  4  pastors,  36  baptisms, 
and  621  members.  Rev.  D.  S.  Starr  has  been  preaching  in 
this  Association  last  year  and  this.  Rev.  Wm.  Beard  is 
supplying -3  Churches  and  reports  24  baptized  at  Chequest 
Union.  The  Association  has  again  increased  its  contribu- 
tion to  State  and  Home  Missions  to  $23.96. 

Meets  at  Floris.  Churches  10,  pastors  5,  baptisms  10, 
members  673.  A.  C.  Edwards  has  become  pastor  at  Bloom- 
field.  If  but  little  is  contributed  in  this  field  for 
state  Mission  Work,  it  ought  to  be  remembered 
also  that  but  little  missionary  work  has  been  done  on  this 
field.  Nothing  for  years,  unless  it  be  a  very  rare  visit 
by  the  General  Missionary.  There  were  in  1881  still  10 
Churches  but  only  3  pastors,  supplying  8  of  the  Churches; 
baptisms  7,  total  membership  reported  688.  The  pastors 
are  A.  C.  Edwards,  J.  W.  Seamster  and  E.  Kinman.  Bro. 
Kinman  has  become  the  veteran  of  the  Fox  River  Associa- 
tion, and  a  right  noble  record  has  he  made  in  this  trying 
field.  For  the  year  1882  but  two  ministers  are  reported  on 
this  field  and  only  three  baptized  during  the  year.  F.  M. 
Cofi'ey  and  J.  W.  Seamster  are  the  pastors.  Brother  Coffey 
is  settled  at  Bloomfield.  I.  F.  Jenkins  is  clerk.  We  have 
for  1883  and  1884  no  account  of  the  work  of  this  Associa- 
tion further  than  [that  $36.50  were  contributed  to  the  Con- 
vention in  1883,  and  in  1884  $16.45. 

I.  F.  Jenkins  of  Bloomfield  is  clerk.     Some  little  signs 
of  life  again.     Nine  Churches,  5  pastors,  58  baptisms,  and 
616  members.     Rev.  H.  Shallenberger  is  preach- 
ing  at  Chequest  Union  and  Floris,  J.  W.    Seam- 
ster at  Hopewell  and  Hickory  Grove,  C.  Daughters  at  Mil- 
ton, H.  H.  Modisett  at  North  Union  and  W.  C.  Shoemaker 


154  HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES.. 

at  Liberty  where  there  are  30  baptisms  reported.  No  con- 
tributions reported.  Bloomfield  is  without  a  pastor  and 
reports  42  members.  Since  the  organization  of  the  Center- 
ville  Association  in  1873,  the  Fox  River  Association  has 
been  limited  to  Davis  county  and  its  immediate  borders. 
There  is  little,  if  any,  more  Baptist  strength  on.its  present 
field  now  than  there  was  twenty-five  years  ago.  Then,  and 
for  years  after,  there  was  not  a  mile  of  railroad  in  its  bor- 
ders. Now  it  is  well  provided  with  railroad  facilities,  and 
there  is  evidence  of  material  progress.  The  ministers  of 
this  Association  have  with  few  exceptions  mainly  sup- 
ported themselves  by  working  or  superintending  their 
farms  etc.  Many  most  excellent  and  worthy  men  have 
nobly  served  their  generation  in  that  way.  But  the  history 
we  have  been  sketching  will  readily  suggest  that,  in  the 
times  on  which  we  have  fallen,  enduring  growth  is  not 
secured  in  that  method.  The  early  practice  of  multiplying 
organizations  without  the  probable  conditions  of  perma- 
nenc}',  and  in  many  instances  near,  but  away  from  the 
centers  of  population,  together  with  the  want  of  sjanpa- 
thy  upon  the  part  of  many  with  the  Missionary  idea  of  the 
New  Testament  Church,  will  account  for  the  want  of 
growth  and  permanency.  A  careful  observation  will 
discover  that  these  causes  have  produced  like  effects  almost 
invariably  wherever  they  are  found  to  exist.  The  Center- 
Tille  Association,  absorbing  the  western  half  of  this  has 
shown  more  of  the  elements  of  life.  As  its  history  is 
essentially  a  continuation  of  that  of  the  Fox  River,  we 
give  it  in  the  next  chapter. 


CHAPTER  XIX 


Centeeville  Association   Okganized  in  1873 — Remin- 
iscences AND  Incidents — 1873  to  1886. 


N  Friday,  October  10,  1873,  "deleojates  for  the 


purpose  of  forming  an  Association  of  regular 
Baptist  Churches  met  at  10  o'clock  a.  m., 
with  the  Centerville  Baptist  Church  in  Appa- 
noose county,  Iowa."  An  introductory  ser- 
mon was  preached  by  Rev.  W.  H.  Turton 
and  Elder  A.  P.  Berry  was  chosen  Moderator  and  G.  C. 
Goodenough,  Secretary  of  the  meeting.  The  organization 
thus  formed  was  called  the  Centermlle  Baptist  Associa- 
tion, and  was  permanently  organized  by  the  election  of 
A.  P.  Berry,  Moderator  and  A.  F.  Haines,  clerk.  The 
Churches  composing  the  body,  mostly  situated  in  Appa- 
noose county,  were  the  following:  Centerville,  no  pastor, 
47  members ;  Concord,  F.  Edwards,  pastor,  102  members ; 
Chariton  River,  A.  Jackson,  pastor,  41  members;  East 
Shoal  Creek,  J.  T.  Milner,  pastor,  26  members ;  Franklin, 
W.  H.  Turton,  pastor,  45  members;  Little  Flock,  Wm. 
Barnett,  pastor,  60  members;  Mount  Ararat,  D.  Winters, 
pastor,  122  members ;  New  Salem,  A.  Huckaby,  pastor,  46 
Miembers  ;  Pleasant  Grove  52,  and  Union,  A.  Saladay,  pas- 
tor, 26  members ;  total  Churches  10 ;  pastors  8 ;  members 


156  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

567.  Five  of  the  above  named  Chiirclies  were  from  the  Fox 
River  Association  and  five  from  the  Eden  Association  on 
the  west.  But  one  person  is  reported  baptized  during  the 
year. 

The  Association  held  its  Second  Annual  Meeting  with 
the  New  Salem  Church,  at  Seymour,  Wayne  county.     A. 

P.  Berry,  Moderator,  N.  Rogers,  Clerk.  Intro- 
1  RY4.  i->      ^ 

ductory  sermon  by  Elder  W.  H.  Turton.  Invi- 
tation to  visiting  brethren  was  accepted  by  Rev.  J.  M. 
Wood,  agent  of  Central  University  at  Pella,  Rev.  M.  T. 
Lamb,  State  Sunday  School  Missionary  and  Rev.  T.  M. 
Colwell,  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Baptist  Publication 
Society.  The  Unionville  Church  was  added  to  the  list  of 
Churches  with  41  members.  Rev.  Z.  Thomas  is  pastor  at 
Chariton  River.  Other  pastors  the  same  as  named  last 
year,  except  that  the  names  of  A.  Jackson,  J.  T.  Milner, 
and  D.  Winters  do  not  this  year  appear.  Churches  11, 
pastors  6,  baptized  22,  members  653. 

Met  at  Mt.  Ararat,  J.  Redburn  Moderator,  L.  Gr.  Parker 
clerk  and  treasurer.  Rev.  F.  Edwards  preached  the  intro- 
ductory sermon  from  Galatians  IV:24.  Mount 
■  Pleasant  Church,  Monroe  county,  was  received 
with  30  members.  Churches  12,  pastors  5,  baptized  26,  total 
membersliip  701.  The  Mt.  Ararat  Church  reports  12 
baptized  and  Pleasant  Grove  13.  The  name  of  the  New 
Salem  Church  has  been  changed  to  Seymour.  The  year 
has  been  one  of  some  advance.  In  1876  the  Association 
met  with  the  Concord  Church,  Moderator  and  clerk  same 
as  last  year.  Rev.  L.  G.  Parker  preached  the  introductory 
sermon  from  1st  Samuel  VII:  12.  The  name  of  the  Union 
Church,  which  last  year  reported  29  members  disappears 
from  the  minutes.  There  are  now  11  Churches,  6  pastors, 
70  baptisms   reported   and   760  members.      Centerville,  F, 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  157 

Edwards  pastor,  has  baptized  40,  Mt.  Ararat,  J.  Redburn, 
17,  and  Seymour,  F.  M.  Archer,  9.  J.  Kincade  and  F.  M. 
Archer  are  recognized  among  the  pastors  for  the  first  time. 
Rev.  F.  Edwards  lias  been  for  over  3  years  pastor  at 
Centerville  and  they  have  completed  and  dedicated  a  new 
house  of  worship.  The  veteran  J.  M.  Smith  of  southwest- 
ern Iowa  was  with  them  at  the  dedication  and  remained 
some  8  or  9  days  preaching  the  word  with  great  acceptance. 
At  this  meeting  of  the  Association  it  was  voted  that  ''A. 
F.  Haines  and  Elder  Parker  be  requested  to  write  out  and 
forward  to  the  Historical  Committee  of  the  State  a  history 
of  this  Association,  and  such  other  historical  sketches 
concerning  the  early  Baptists  in  this  vicinity  and  contigu- 
ous territory,  as  they  may  think  proper.  "  The  present 
"Sketcher"  does  not  know  whether  this  was  ever  done 
or  not. 

The  Association  met  at  Franklin  Church,  Livingstone 

Appanoose  county.  Moderator  F.  Edwards,  clerk  Rev.  L. 

Gr.  Parker  still.    Introductory  sermon  from  Amos 

1 877.      ^jj.  2  ^^^  ^^^  -p  5^(j^j^j.(-|g    rpj^^  Moulton  Church 

was  received  with  22  members,  J.  Redburn  pastor.  Churches 
12,  pastors  8,  baptized  61,  total  membership  820.  Center- 
ville has  again  shared  most  largely  in  the  blessing  and 
baptized  31,  Franklin  11,  F.  M.  Archer  pastor.  The  evidences 
of  vigorous  life  are  refreshing.  The  Moulton  Church, 
received  this  year  gathers  up  the  fragments  of  the  Union 
Church  which  had  dissolved. 

Unionville  is  the  place  of  assembly  in  1878.  Elder  A.  P. 
Berry  preached   the   introductory  sermon   from   Hebrews 

XIII:   1.      Moderator  F.   Edwards,  clerk   L.    G. 

Parker.  The  number  of  Churches  remains  un- 
changed though  Mt.  Ararat  has  not  reported  for  two  years  ; 
baptisms   29,  present   membership  646.      This   is   a   large 


158  HISTOKICAL   SKETCHES 

falling  off  from  last  year;  25  have  been  dismissed  by  letter 
and  3(j  excluded,  28  of  these  from  the  Little  Flock  Church. 
Rev.  L.  S.  Livermore  is  preaching  at  Concord  and  Mt. 
Pleasant  Churches. 

The  Association  met  with  the  Little  Flock  Church  in 
Appanoose  county.  Rev.  A.  P.  Berry  preached  the  sermon 
from  John  Y:  8.  Officers  unchanged.  We  recog- 
nize Rev.  A.  W.  Sutton  as  pastor  of  the  Franklin, 
Little  Flock  and  Seymour  Churches.  Rev.  T.  Davis  is 
preaching  at  Chariton  River.  Rev.  F.  M.  Archer  has  re- 
moved to  the  Eden  Association.  Churches  12,  pastors  6, 
baptisms  9,  total  membership  706.  Seymour  liad  been 
for  a  time  without  the  ministrations  of  the  word.  They 
say  "After  we  had  secured  a  man  of  God  to  go  in  and  out 
before  us  a  meeting  place  was  denied  us,  and  in  this 
emergency  we  resolved  to  arise  and  build,  "  and  "  by  the 
grace  of  Him  who  said  'I  am  with  you  always'  they  have 
a  house  inclosed,  of  goodly  size  and  fair  proportions. " 

Centerville  has  the  privilege  of  entertaining  the  "an- 
gels'' again.  Introductory  sermon  by  Rev.  A.  W.  Sutton 
from  Acts  XVII:  6.  Officers  the  same  as  for 
several  years  past.  Churches  12,  pastors  8,  bap- 
tisms 8,  total  membership  668.  Besides  the  pastors  before 
mentioned  Rev.  A.  C.  Edwards  is  preaching  at  Little  Flock 
and  J.  R.  Chance  at  Mt.  Pleasant.  Great  barrenness  of 
spiritual  results  is  manifest  in  the  small  number  of 
baptisms. 

Meet  with  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Church.  Annual  sermon 
by  Elder  A.  P.  Berry  from  John  III:  14-15.     A.  P.  Berry 

Moderator,  D.  Given  clerk  and  treasurer.  Rev.  F. 

Edwards  who  has  been  connected  with  this 
Association  for  eight  years,  much  of  the  time  as  its 
Moderator,  and  since  1874  pastor  at  Centerville,  is  missed 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  159 

from  its  councils,  having  removed  soon  after  the  last  Annual 
meeting  and  taken  up  work  at  Leon  in  the  Eden  Associa- 
tion, where  we  shall  hear  from  him  again.  Rev.  A.  Rob- 
bins  has  succeeded  pastor  Edwards  at  Centerville.  The 
name  of  G.  W.  Bagwell  appears  as  pastor  at  Chariton  Riv- 
er. The  state  of  religion  runs  low,  which  is  deplored  and 
felt  to  be  "an  alarming  condition,  and  one  that  will  finally 
lead  to  an  utter  disregard  of  the  responsibilities  resting 
upon  us  as  a  denomination,  "  yet  there  is  "a  balm  in  Gil- 
ead"  and  the  churches  are  recommended  in  order  to  "raise 
the  standard  of  our  religious  life"  to  "get  nearer  to  Jesus." 
Churches  12,  pastors  7,  baptized  17,  whole  number  631.  A 
difficulty  having  arisen  between  the  Seymour  and  Little 
Flock  Churches,  growing  out  of  the  reception  by  the  latter 
Church  of  a  member  excluded  from  the  former;  a  commit- 
tee had  been  appointed  last  year  to  report  on  the  case. 
The  committee  brought  in  a  report  at  this  meeting  covering 
four  full  pages  of  the  printed  minutes.  The  report  was  ev- 
idently drawn  up  by  Rev.  A.  Robbins,  chairman  of  the 
committee,  than  whom  Iowa  has  had  few  pastors  able  to 
set  out  in  clearer  light  the  principles  involved  in  such  a 
case.  The  case  is  one  often  repeated,  with  perhaps  some 
variations  in  detail.  A  member  of  the  Church  is  at  vari- 
ance with  its  pastor,  absents  himself  from  its  meetings,  vi- 
olates his  covenant  vows,  is  disciplined  by  the  Church, 
and,  perhaps,  somewhat  hastily,  excluded,  without  any 
charge  against  his  moral  character.  He  calls  an  ex-parte 
council,  without  any  effort  to  secure  redress  by  a  mutual 
council.  The  ex-parte  council  meets  in  the  M.  E.  Church 
of  the  village,  with  open  doors,  decides  that  the  member 
had  not  been  fairly  dealt  with,  and  under  these  circum- 
stances he  seeks  and  obtains  membership  in  another 
Church  in  the  same  Association  with  the  usual  result  of 
disturbing  the  relations  of  the  two  Churches.     The  com- 


160  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

mittee  have  viewed  and  treated  the  whole  case  with  very 
great  skill  and  wisdom,  pointing  out,  in  a  kind  and  chris- 
tian spirit,  the  errors  in  every  step  on  both  sides  of  the 
controversy,  and  especially  that  an  ex-parte  council  in  such 
a  case  should  never  be  called  except  as  a  last  resort.  For 
"However  honest  and  well-meant  their  efforts  may  be,  they 
seldom  succeed  in  settling  difficulties,  and  often  complicate 
and  intensify  them. " 

Met  with  the  Concord  Baptist  Church  in  Appanoose 
county.     A.  P.   Berry,  Moderator,  A.  Robbins.  clerk  and 

preacher  of  annual  sermon.     Text,  Amos  YII:2. 

"By  whom  shall  Jacob  arise.  "  Twelve  churches, 
5  pastors,  baptized  14,  present  membership  592.  The  pas- 
tors are  A  Robbins,  Centerville  ;  C.  Lippitt,  Franklin  ;  D. 
Given,  Little  Flock ;  W.  H.  Eaton,  Mt.  Ararat,  and  Wm. 
Barnett,  Unionville.  Seven  churches  are  without  pastoral 
care.  In  1883  the  Association  met  for  its  eleventh  anniver- 
saiy  with  the  Franklin  Church,  Livingston,  Appanoose 
county,  on  Wednesday,  September  12.  The  annual  ser- 
mon was  preached  by  Rev.  D.  Given,  of  Promise  City,  from 
Isaiah  XL:31 ;  who  then  called  the  Association  to  order. 
Rev-  D.  Given  Moderator,  A.  F.  Haines  clerk  and  treasurer. 
Churches  12,  pastors  8,  baptized  22,  total  membership  552. 
Of  the  22  baptisms,  21  were  in  the  Pleasant  Grove  Church, 
W.  H.  Eaton,  pastor.  Brother  Robbins  is  still  pastor  at 
Centerville,  D.  Winters  at  Chariton  River,  Rev.  S.  H.Gunn 
of  St.  Johns,  Mo.,  at  Franklin,  D.  Given  at  Little  Flock, 
Joseph  Baker  at  Mt.  Ararat  and  Unionville,  B.  F.  Mace  at 
Mount  Pleasant  and  W^.  H.  Eaton  at  Pleasant  Grove. 

Place  of  meeting  Pleasant  Grove  Baptist  Church,  near 

Dennis,  Appanoose  county.     Rev.  A.  P.  Berry,  Moderator, 

and  S.  T.  Shepherd,  clerk  and  treasurer.  Rev.  D. 
1  RR4- 

D.  Proper,  of  Des  Moines,  General  Missionary  of 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  161 

the  State  Convention,  preached  the  annual  sermon  from  Isa- 
iah LIV:2  Rev.  George  E.  Eldridge  has  succeeded  pastor 
Robbins  at  Centerville.  The  other  pastors  of  the  Associa- 
tion are  about  the  same  as  last  year  with  perhaps  some 
changes  of  fields.  It  is  a  year  of  better  spiritual  results 
than  for  several  years  past.  Fifty  baptisms  and  659  mem- 
bers reported.  Six  of  the  12  Churches  report  baptisms 
ranging  from  2  to  15.  The  time  of  meeting  of  the  Associa- 
tion had  been  changed  two  or  three  years  ago  to  the  mid- 
dle of  the  week.  This  year  it  is  changed  back  again  to 
Friday,  so  as  to  hold  over  Sunday. 

Met  with  the  Unionville  Church,  Rev.  L.  G.  Parker 
Moderator,  S.  T.  Shepherd  clerk  and  treasurer.  Rev.  Geo. 
E.  Eldridge  preached  the  annual  sermon  from 
1885.  Psalm  85:6.  A  little  falling  off  in  results  from 
last  year.  Churches  19,  pastors  8,  baptisms  34;  25  of  them 
in  the  Unionville  Church  ;  total  membership  638.  While 
the  work  seems  to  have  remained,  in  one  sense,  almost 
stationary  on  this  field  since  the  organization  of  this  Asso- 
tion,  the  number  of  Churches  varying  only  two  and  the 
membership  only  one  or  two  hundred,  yet  there  has  been 
evidence  all  along  of  a  good  degree  of  vigorous  religious 
life,  and  the  Association  has  made,  for  its  surroundings,  a 
very  creditable  record.  The  representatives  of  Missionary 
interests  have  been  cordially  received  and  contributions 
have  been  cheerfully  made  and  encouraged.  We  have  the 
means  of  verifying  this  statement  only  in  the  case  of  State 
Missions.  Taking  the  11  years  from  1875  to  1885  inclusive, 
we  find  contributions  reported  every  year  ranging  from 
$8.15  in  1876,  the  smallest,  to  §69.12,  the  largest  in  1881, 
and  aggregating  in  the  11  years  $379.86.  It  is  also  a  re- 
markable fact  that  in  that  time  not  a  dollar  has  been 
expended  in  Missionary  appointments  within  the  territory 
of  this  Association,  nor  so  far  as  appears  ever  asked  for. 


162  HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES 

Resolutions  and  words  of  cheer  for  the  various  objects  of 
benevolence  seem  never  to  have  been  wanting. 

Before  closing  this  sketch  a  reminiscence  of  this  field 
not  easily  forgotten  may  properly  find  place  here.  In  tlie 
earlier  years  of  the  Centerville  Association  tlie  name  of  C. 
H.  Kichardson  appears  regularly  among  the  delegates  of  the 
Centerville  Church,  bearing  evidence  of  an  abiding  interest 
and  active  usefulness  in  the  cause.  The  incident  about  to 
be  related  is  of  the  first  appearance  of  Brother  Richardson 
in  this  field.  It  was  in  the  exciting  period  of  1864,  the 
most  critical  time  in  the  government's  gigantic  work  of 
suppressing  the  rebellion.  The  Pox  River  Association 
was  in  session  with  the  Centerville  Church.  As  was  usual 
in  that  critical  time,  resolutions  had  been  presented  ex- 
pressing strong  condemnation  of  the  rebellion,  and  sympathy 
with  the  Government.  The  Moderator  of  the  Association 
had  declared  the  resolutions  out  of  order,  and  as  the  only 
way  of  getting  the  matter  before  the  body  an  apx)eal  was 
taken  from  the  decision  of  the  chair.  There  was  no  ex- 
pectation that  the  appeal  would  be  sustained  by  a  vote  of 
the  Association,  but  so  strong  was  the  feeling  that  something 
ought  to  be  said  then  and  there  in  behalf  of  what  was 
deemed  a  matter  of  so  much  importance  that,  regardless  of 
parliamentary  restrictions  a  three- hours  discussion  of  the 
resolutions  followed  on  the  motion  to  appeal.  All  was  said 
that  needed  to  be  said,  and  the  yeas  and  nays  were  called 
and  the  appeal  was  voted  down,  and  the  chair  sustained. 
Brother  D.  V.  Lewis  was  clerk  of  the  body  and  strongly 
in  favor  of  the  resolutions.  He  suggested  that  as  the  yeas 
and  nays  were  to  be  recorded  it  would  be  necessary  to  print 
in  tlie  minutes  the  matter  voted  upon,  and  this  was  per- 
mitted to  be  done,  and  the  resolutions  went  before  the 
people  with  their  sentiments  of  loyalty  to  work  as  leaven 
wherever   the   minutes  were    read.     Brother    Richardson 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  163 

owned  some  land  in  Appanoose  county,  which  he  had 
never  seen.  Deciding-  in  the  summer  of  1864  to  emigrate 
from  Vermont  to  the  west,  he  had  brought  his  family  into 
Southern  Iowa  to  hunt  up  his  land  and  settle  upon  it. 
Arriving  late  in  the  week  in  the  neighborhood  of  Center- 
ville  he  heard  of  the  Association  then  in  session,  and  being 
a  loyal  Baptist  he  came  into  the  meeting  and  entered 
during  the  discussion  referred  to  above.  Being  just  from 
the  intensely  loyal  state  of  Vermont  he  had  never  heard 
such  sentiments  as  he  was  compelled  to  listen  to  here 
among  entire  strangers.  He  had  not  imagined  that  such 
sentiments  could  be  heard  among  Baptists  north  of  the 
precincts  of  slavery  itself.  His  homesickness  and  disap- 
pointment can  be  better  imagined  than  described.  As  he 
told  the  writer  afterwards,  his  mind  was  made  up  during 
that  afternoon  that  he  could  never  settle  in  such  a  com- 
munity. Said  he:  "On  Monday  following  I  went  out  to 
look  at  the  land, "  and  though  thib  was  years  afterward,  he 
said  "this  land  never  looked  so  beautiful  as  it  did  that 
Monday  morning.''  Then  he  says:  "I  said  to  myself, 
Calvin  Richardson,  you  never  have  backed  out  yet  and 
you  are  not  going  to  do  it  now. "  And  he  did  not.  A  home 
was  made  on  the  farm  and  in  the  Church,  and  the  record 
of  his  name  in  connection  with  the  Association  shows  that 
he  was  made  of  the  stuff  that  does  not  "back  out'  from 
the  duty  of  the  Christian  and  the  citizen. 

In  1885  we  find  Thomas  Wharton,  postoffice,  Exline, 
pastor  of  the  East  Short  Creek  Church.  Other  pastors  are 
Geo.  E.  Eldridge,  W.  H.  Eaton,  Wm.  Barnett,  Joseph 
Baker,  B.  F.  Mace,  preaching  to  the  Mount  Pleasant 
Church,  and  L.  G.  Parker.  Rev.  Wm.  Barnett  and  Rev.  L. 
G.  Parker  have  done  long  and  faithful  service  in  this  part  of 
Iowa;  the  former  since  1855,  and  the  latter  since  along  in 
the  sixties.     Brother  Barnett  was  a  member,  in  all  its  early 


164  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

years,  of  the  Eden  Assciation.  The  Franklin  Church,  Liv- 
ingston postoffice,  has  a  history  peculiar  to  itself.  This  is 
the  home  of  Rev.  L.  G.  Parker.  The  Church  in  all  its 
earlier  days  was  far  in  advance  of  all  the  surrounding 
country  in  its  ideas  of  benevolence.  It  was  a  pleasure  for 
the  representatives  of  missionary  organizations  to  visit 
them,  and  a  manifest  pleasure  to  them  to  receive  such 
visits.  A  kind  of  oasis  in  the  desert  it  seemed.  Doubtless 
the  reports  of  treasurers  would  verify  the  assertion  that 
though  a  small  body,  and  much  scattered,  they  were  a 
peculiar  people,  and  zealous  of  good  works.  As  this  chap- 
ter goes  to  press  the  report  for  1886  has  not  been  received. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


The   Central    Iowa  Association— Organized    in    1852. 
A  Large   Field— 1852   to   1886. 

piE  fourth  to  appear  on  the  list  of  Associa- 
tions was  the  Central  Iowa,  organized  in 
1852.  A  meeting  of  delegates  from  the  Bap- 
tist Churches  of  Des  Moines,  West  Union 
(Vandalia),  Harmony  (Monroe),  and  Coal 
Ridge  was  held  with  the  West  Union 
Church  (Vandalia),  July  3,  1852,  "for  the  purpose  of 
organizing  an  Association."  "Rev.  I.  C.  Curtis  was  called 
to  the  chair  and  Rev.  J.  A.  Nash  appointed  clerk.'-  A 
constitution  was  adopted  and  the  Central  Iowa  Baptist 
Association  began  its  career.     Churches   6 ;  members  114. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Association  was  held  with  the 
Harmony  (Monroe)  Church,  October  15,  1852.  Rev.  J. 
Bond  preached  the  introductory  sermon,  W.  D. 
18S2.  j^ye^-ett.  Moderator,  J.  A.  Nash,  clerk.  The 
next  year,  1853,  there  appeared  the  following  Churches  in 
the  list:  Monroe  (formerly  Harmony),  E.  Evans,  pastor. 


166  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

30  members,  Fort  Des  Moines,  J.  A.  Nash,  24;  Core}^  Grove, 
]();  Union,  I.  C.  Curtis,  12;  Coal  Ridge,  W.  D.  Everett,  23; 
Pleasant  Grove,  33;  West  Union,  E.  Evans,  23;  Newton,  E. 
Evans,  12;  Hartford,  B.  B.  Arnold,  16;  total,  9  Churches; 
5  pastors;  12  baptisms  reported  and  183  members.  Of  the 
9  Churches,  the  first  was  organized  in  1850,  the  following 
three  in  1851,  the  next  four  in  the  order  named  in  1852  and 
the  last  in  1853.  These  Churches  were  located  in  Polk, 
Jasper,  Marion  and  Warren  counties,  and  comprised  all 
the  Baprist  Churches  then  known  in  the  west  two-thirds  of 
the  State.  The  anniversary  in  1853  was  with  the  West 
Union  Church.  Rev.  J.  A.  Nash  preached  the  sermon. 
B.  B.  Arnold,  Moderator,  J.  A.  Nash,  clerk. 

Met  at  Hartford.  Rev.  J.  A.  Nash  preached  the  ser- 
mon, E.  Evans,  Moderator.  The  following  additional 
Churches  are  found  on  the  list:  Boone  Forks,  W. 
J.  Sparks,  pastor,  22  members;  Knoxville,  52; 
North  River,  18;  South  River,  S.  G.  Hunt,  13;  North 
Union,  W.  J.  Sparks,  17.  Knoxville  came  from  the  Oska- 
loosa  Association  and  had  been  organized  in  1851.  There 
are  now  14  Churches,  6  pastors;  98  baptisms  are  reported, 
118  received  by  letter  and  experience,  and  a  total  mem- 
bership of  384.  It  has  been  a  year  of  remarkable  revivals. 
Eleven  of  the  14  Churches  reported  baptisms.  Rev.  W. 
D.  Everett,  pastor  at  Coal  Ridge,  reports  17;  Rev.  B.  B, 
Arnold,  at  Hartford,  27,  and  Rev.  W.  J.  Sparks,  at  North 
Union,  29.  The  annual  meeting  in  1855  was  at  Fort  Des 
Moines.  Rev.  J.  A.  Nash  still  Corresponding  Secretary. 
Iowa  Centre  and  Newburn  Churches  are  added;  and  Ira  H. 
Rees,  A.  W.  Russell  and  H.  Haley  to  the  list  of  ministers. 
Sixteen  Churches,  8  pastors,  47  baptisms  and  489  members. 
The  name  of  E.  Evans  disappears  this  year  from  the  list 
of  pastors.  North  River  has  the  largest  number  of  bap- 
tisms, 16. 


OF    IOWA   BAPTISTS.  167 

The  place  of  meeting  is  Knoxville.     Otter  Creek,  Hand- 
some View,  Winterset,  and  Mount  Pleasant  Churches  are 

„  added.     H.  Haley  is  pastor  at  Otter  Creek  and 

1 SS6 

J.  Ellege  at  Winterset.     New  names  in  the  list 

of  ministers  are  A,  Dana,  Coal  Ridge;  D.  Taylor,  Hartford; 
J.  Ellis  Guild,  Newton,  and  H.  C.  Warson,  Pleasant  Grove 
and  South  River.  There  are  now  20  Churches,  10  pastors, 
40  baptisms  reported,  and  671  members.  In  1857  the  meet- 
ing was  at  Monroe.  Rev.  B.  B.  Arnold  preached  the  ser- 
mon, and  J.  Currier  was  Moderator.  Rev.  A.  W.  Russell 
removed  from  Monroe  in  June  of  1857,  and  began  work  at 
Winterset,  under  appointment  of  the  State  Convention. 
The  annual  report  says:  "The  Church  was  rent  by. divis- 
ions and  difficulties,  and  was  in  other  respects  feeble  and 
inefficient.  In  removing  these  difficulties;  however,  encour- 
aging progress  has  been  made,  and  the  prospect  for  the 
future  seems  much  more  encouraging. 

The  Association  is  now  composed  of  24  Churches,  5  of 
which  were  added  the  present  yeai'.  These  were  Buffalo 
Grove,  Bethel,  Boonsboro,  Green  Bush  and  Good 
Hope.  There  are  15  ordained  ministers  within 
the  bounds  of  the  Association;  but  as  but  few  of  them  are 
devoting  tlieir  whole  time  to  the  ministr}-  there  is  much 
destitution.  Considerable  success  has,  however,  attended 
the  labors  of  the  year,  and  this  region,  so  lately  the  abode 
of  the  red  man  and  the  Buffalo,  is  rapidly  being  pre-empted 
for  the  Lord  and  for  Christian  civilization.  The  number 
baptized  during  the  year  is  120,  and  the  Association  now 
numbers  911  members.  Rev.  Ira  H.  Rees  is  occupying 
Boone  and  Story  counties,  under  commission  of  the  Con- 
vention, at  a  salary  of  |;300.00,  one-half  of  which  is  to  be 
raised  on  the  field.  For  a  number  of  years  Brother  Rees 
continued  a  heroic  and  self-sacrificing  struggle  on  this 
frontier,  and  then  removed  farther  west,  doubtless  to  repeat 


168  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

the  struggle.  A  correspondent  of  the  Standard,  in  1886, 
visited  this  same  dear  brother  in  southern  Kansas,  and 
found  him  desirous  of  disposing  of  sundry  lands  he  pos- 
sessed, in  order  to  devote  himself  again  to  the  active  work 
of  the  ministry. 

The  Association  met  at  Vandalia  and  received  reports 
of  several  revivals  of  special  interest,  while  other  fields, 
not  blessed  with  abundant  showers,  have  been 
refreshed  with  heavenly  dews.  Rev.  Joshua 
Currier,  formerly  of  the  Dubuque  Association,  has  been 
sustained  by  the  Association  and  the  Home  Missionary 
Society  to  supply  destitute  Churches  a  part  of  this  and 
the  last  year,  the  beginning  of  a  number  of  years  of  faith- 
ful labor  by  Brother  Currier  in  the  Central  Association. 
Rev.  T.  J.  Arnold  and  Rev.  T.  C.  Townsend  also  begun 
work  here  in  1859.  Rev.  J.  A.  Todd,  E.  Whitaker,  and  L. 
L.  Frisk  are  noted  in  the  list.  Churches  24,  pastors  11, 
baptisms  111,  added  from  other  sources  188,  total  member- 
ship 921.  E.  O.  AVhitaker  preached  the  annual  sermon 
and  is  clerk  of  the  body.     Rev.  J.  Currier,  Moderator. 

Met  at  Sandyville,  Warren  county.      Rev.  T.  C.  Town- 
send  preached  the  sermon.     J.   Currier,  Moderator,  J.  A. 

Todd,  clerk.    Five  Churches  have  been  dismissed 
1  RfiO 

to  form  the  Upper  Des  Moines  Association  and  it 

has  been  a  year  of  spiritual   dearth.     There   are  now   18 

churches,  7  pastors,  33  baptisms  reported  and  739  members. 

There  is  not  as  yet  a  Church  in  the  Association  having  100 

members.      Des  Moines  is  the  nearest  with  92.      In  1861 

Newton  extends  hospitality  to  the  brethren.     Rev.  R.  D. 

Hartshorn  has  become  pastor  at  Knoxville  and  is  clerk  of 

the  Association.     Rev.  J.  Currier  is  Moderator.     One  small 

Church  with  11  members,  called  Prairie  Church,   near  Des 

Moines   is   the   only  addition   to    the   list.     Baptisms   44, 


J.  A.  NASH,  D.  D. 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  '      169 

members  755.     Rev.  Wm.  Parker  is   preaching  at   Iowa 
Center,  bpiiii.v  ordained  tliere  this  year. 

This  year  the  Anniversary  is  at  Knoxville.  Eev..  J.  A. 
Nash  preaclied  the  introductory  sermon.  Rev.  J.  Currier 
was  elected  Moderator  and  R.  D.  Hartshorn  clerk. 
At  this  meeting  the  present  writer  was  present 
as  a  visitor.  It  is  hard  to  realize  that  at  that  time  our 
Baptist  cause  in  all  this  great  Central  District  of  Iowa  was 
only  ten  years  old,  yet  there  are  only  two  Churches  in  the 
Central  Association  that  were  organized  prior  to  1852. 
Des  Moines  and  Knoxville  each  dates  back  to  1851.  The 
meeting  at  Knoxville  this  year  is  remembered  as  a  pleasant 
and  harmonious  occasion.  The  Church  at  Des  Moines  have 
had  a  revival  of  great  power  and  have  baptized  60,  giving 
them  a  membership  of  165.  Baptisms  in  the  Association 
118,  total  membership  864. 

The  Association  met  at  Des  Moines.  Moderator  and 
clerk  the  same  as  last  year.  The  Churches  of  this  Asso- 
ciation, as  elsewhere,  are  suffering  depletion  as  a 
consequence  of  the  Civil  War,  but  "exhibit  an 
almost  united  devotion  to  the  Government  in  its  struggle 
to  subdue  the  Rebellion. ''  But  little  evidence  of  revival 
in  the  Churches  this  year,  though  the  Vandalia  Church, 
Rev.  J.  Parker  pastor,  has  baptized  37,  showing  a  good 
work.  Total  baptisms  45,  membership  833.  In  1864  the 
Association  met  at  Vandalia.  There  were  only  4  pastors 
reported,  Rev.  Demas  Robinson  at  Iowa  Centre  and  Van- 
dalia, Wm.  Hildreth  at  Knoxville,  J.  Currier  at  Monroe, 
and  J.  A.  Nash  at  Des  Moines.  The  Church  at  Avon 
reports  33  baptized,  Carlisle  34,  and  Hartford  12,  and  these 
Churches  are  all  now  without  pastors.  Rev.  J.  Parker,  an 
active  worker,  and  pastor  of  several  Churches,  has  died 
during  the  year.  Whole  number  of  baptisms  82,  members 
817  in  18  Churches. 


172  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Churches  11,  pastors  13,  baptisms  155,  added  in  all  ways, 
249.  Total  membership,  1,773.  Rev.R  Garton  has  suc- 
ceeded  Rev.  O.  T.  Conger  at  Winterset.  There  are 
now  six  Churches  having  over  100  members  each, 
viz:  Carlisle,  Des  Moines,  Indianola,  Knoxville,  Monroe 
and  Winterset.  Rev.  Amos  Robinson  becomes  pastor  at 
Newton  late  in  this  year.  In  1872  the  Association  met  at 
Otley;  D.  N.  Mason,  clerk.  A  year  of  somewhat  limited 
results.  There  are  22  Churches,  13  pastors,  57  baptisms 
reported,  and  1,599  members;  a  decrease  from  last  year  of 
172.  The  Church  at  Otley,  midway  between  Pella  and 
Monroe,  organized  in  1871,  is  called  Mount  Moriali  Church, 
and  has  69  members.  Elm  Grove  Church,  seven  miles 
south  of  Des  Moines,  also  organized  in  1871,  Rev.  Uriah 
McKay,  pastor,  has  40  members,  11  of  whom  were  baptized 
during  the  year.  The  Enon  Church,  Rev.  J.  L.  Wyly, 
pastor,  is  a  new  organization  with  but  9  members.  Rev. 
Amos  Robinson,  of  Newton,  is  preaching  to  the  Sherman 
Church.  Rev.  A.  Wells  seems  to  have  been  pastor  at  New 
Virginia  this  year  and  last.  Of  the  22  Churches  in  this 
Association,  11  are  less  than  five  years  old,  and  six  of  them 
without  pastors.  Rev.  J.  R.  Murphy,  D.  D.,  recently  from 
Salem,  New  Jersey,  has  become  pastor  at  Des  Moines,  suc- 
ceeding Rev.  J.  Y.  Schofield  after  a  two  years'  pastorate. 

The  meeting  this  year  is  at  Norwalk.  Rev.  A.  Robinson, 
of  Newton,  is  clerk.  Brother  Robinson  is  still  pastor,  and 
patiently  laboring  on  at  Newton.  Refreshing 
showers  of  Divine  Grace  are  again  evident  this 
year.  The  21  Churches  with  13  pastors  report  227  bap- 
tisms, and  1,740  members.  This  is  within  five  of  as  many 
baptisms  as  in  1869,  which  was  noted  as  one  of  the  high 
tides  in  the  history  of  the  Association.  The  Churches 
sharing  most  largely  are  Des  Moines,  Rev.  J.  R.  Murphy, 
pastor,  56;  Monroe,  Rev.  G.  W.  Hertzog,  31;  and  Winterset, 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  169 

members  755.     Rev.  Wm.  Parker   is   preaching   at   Iowa 
Center,  bpiiio,-  ordained  there  this  year. 

This  year  the  Anniversary  is  at  Knoxville.  Rev.  J.  A. 
Nash  preached  the  introductory  sermon.  Rev.  J.  Currier 
was  elected  Moderator  and  R.  T).  Hartshorn  clerk. 
At  this  meeting  the  present  writer  was  present 
as  a  visitor.  It  is  hard  to  realize  that  at  that  time  our 
Baptist  cause  in  all  this  great  Central  District  of  Iowa  was 
only  ten  years  old,  yet  there  are  only  two  Churches  in  the 
Central  Association  that  were  organized  prior  to  1852. 
Des  Moines  and  Knoxville  each  dates  back  to  1851.  The 
meeting  at  Knoxville  this  year  is  remembered  as  a  pleasant 
and  harmonious  occasion.  The  Church  at  Des  Moines  have 
had  a  revival  of  great  power  and  have  baptized  60,  giving 
them  a  membership  of  165.  Baptisms  in  the  Association 
118,  total  membership  864. 

The  Association  met  at  Des  Moines.      Moderator  and 
clerk  the  same  as  last  year.     The  Churches  of   this  Asso- 
ciation, as  elsewhere,  are  suffering  depletion  as  a 

-I     p  O  Q  '  '  O  i 

consequence  of  the  Civil  War,  but  "  exhibit  an 
almost  united  devotion  to  the  Government  in  its  struggle 
to  subdue  the  Rebellion.''  But  little  evidence  of  revival 
in  the  Churches  this  year,  though  the  Vandalia  Church, 
Rev.  J.  Parker  pastor,  has  baptized  37,  showing  a  good 
work.  Total  baptisms  45,  membership  833.  In  1864  the 
Association  met  at  Vandalia.  There  were  only  4  pastors 
reported,  Rev.  Demas  Robinson  at  Iowa  Centre  and  Van- 
dalia, Wm.  Hildreth  at  Knoxville,  J.  Currier  at  Monroe, 
and  J.  A.  Nash  at  Des  Moines.  The  Church  at  Avon 
reports  33  baptized,  Carlisle  34,  and  Hartford  12,  and  these 
Churches  are  all  now  without  pastors.  Rev.  J.  Parker,  an 
active  worker,  and  pastor  of  several  Churches,  has  died 
during  the  year.  Whole  number  of  baptisms  82,  members 
817  in  18  Churches. 


172  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Churches  11,  pastors  13,  baptisms  155,  added  in  all  ways, 
249.  Total  membership,  1,773.  Rev.R  Garton  has  suc- 
ceeded  Kev.  O.  T.  Conger  at  Winterset.  There  are 
now  six  Churches  having  over  100  members  each, 
viz:  Carlisle,  Des  Moines,  Indianola,  Knoxville,  Monroe 
and  Winterset.  Rev.  Amos  Robinson  becomes  pastor  at 
Newton  late  in  this  year.  In  J  872  the  Association  met  at 
Otley;  D.  N.  Mason,  clerk.  A  year  of  somewhat  limited 
results.  There  are  22  Churches,  13  pastors,  57  baptisms 
reported,  and  1,599  members;  a  decrease  from  last  year  of 
172.  The  Church  at  Otley,  midway  between  Pella  and 
Monroe,  organized  in  1871,  is  called  Mount  Moriah  Church, 
and  has  69  members.  Elm  Grove  Church,  seven  miles 
south  of  Des  Moines,  also  organized  in  1871,  Rev.  Uriah 
McKay,  pastor,  has  40  members,  11  of  whom  were  baptized 
during  the  year.  The  Enon  Church,  Rev.  J.  L.  Wyly, 
pastor,  is  a  new  organization  with  but  9  members.  Rev. 
Amos  Robinson,  of  Newton,  is  preaching  to  the  Sherman 
Church.  Rev.  A.  Wells  seems  to  have  been  pastor  at  New 
Virginia  this  year  and  last.  Of  the  22  Churches  in  this 
Association,  11  are  less  than  five  years  old,  and  six  of  them 
without  pastors.  Rev.  J.  R.  Murphy,  D.  D.,  recently  from 
Salem,  New  Jersey,  has  become  pastor  at  Des  Moines,  suc- 
ceeding Rev.  J.  Y.  Schofield  after  a  two  years'  pastorate. 

The  meeting  this  year  is  at  Norwalk.  Rev.  A.  Robinson, 
of  Newton,  is  clerk.  Brother  Robinson  is  still  pastor,  and 
patiently  laboring  on  at  Newton.  Refreshing 
showers  of  Divine  Grace  are  again  evident  this 
year.  The  21  Churches  with  13  pastors  report  227  bap- 
tisms, and  1,740  members.  This  is  within  five  of  as  many 
baptisms  as  in  1869,  which  was  noted  as  one  of  the  high 
tides  in  the  history  of  the  Association.  The  Churches 
sharing  most  largely  are  Des  Moines,  Rev.  J.  R.  Murphy, 
pastor,  56;  Monroe,  Rev.  G.  W.  Hertzog,  31;  and  Winterset, 


OF    IOWA   BAPTISTS.  173 

Rev.  R.  Garten,  83.  A  Church  has  been  organized  at  East 
Des  Moines,  Rev.  Granger  W.  Smith,  pastor;  9  baptisms 
and  63  members.  Tlie  contributions  for  the  Convention 
this  year  are  $380.90.  Keeping  pace  pretty  well  with  the 
spiritual  prosperity.  Rev.  T.  R.  Stitt  is  preaching  at  Hart- 
ford. Rev.  Wm.  Tilly  has  become  pastor  at  Indianola. 
S.  Funk  at  Norwalk  and  Spring  Hill;  Rev.  Thomas  Miller 
at  Woodland.  Knoxville  is  without  a  pastor,  Brother  Frey 
having  returned  to  the  English  River  Association,  after  a 
three  years'  service  there. 

Monroe   entertains   the   Association    this  year.      Amos 

Robinson  is  still  clerk.     The  names  of  several  Churches 

not  represented  are  dropped  out  of  the  table  this 

1  RVzL  ^ 

year.  Some  of  them  will  certainly  reappear. 
Churches  17,  pastors  12,  baptisms  63,  members  1487.  Rev. 
John  Bodenham  appears  as  pastor  at  Carlisle,  A.  Rob  bins 
at  Knoxville,  D.  Simons  at  Hartford  and  Vandalia,  H.  S. 
Fish  at  Otle}^,  H.  C.  Warson  at  Spring  Hill,  Samuel  W. 
Lee  at  New  Virginia,  and  J.  Messenger  at  Clanton  Church. 
This  Church  some  10  miles  south  of  Winterset  was  dis- 
missed from  the  Western  Iowa  Association  in  1868,  and 
first  appears  in  these  minutes  in  1870  but  seems  to  have 
very  little  prosperity.  Reports  26  members.  In  1875  the 
meeting  was  at  Vandalia.  The  same  clerk  continued. 
Churches  21,  pastors  12,  baptisms  39,  total  membership 
1463.  Rev.  A  J.  Delano  has  succeeded  pastor  Garton  at 
Winterset,  after  an  interval  of  one  year.  Brother  Garton, 
after  a  pastorate  of  three  years  here,  removes  to  Waterloo, 
Iowa,  to  begin  one  of  the  notably  long  and  successful 
terms  of  pastoral  work  in  Iowa.  Rev.  J.  A.  Abbott  appears 
as  pastor  at  Monroe.  Brother  Messenger  at  Clanton  reports. 
8  baptized  and  an  increase  of  membership  to  33.  The 
Patterson  Church,  S.  W.  Lee  pastor,  is  enrolled  with  61 
members  and  6  baptisms. 


176  HISTOKICAL    SKETCHES 

The  Association  meets  with  the  East  Des  Moines  Church. 
Churches  25,  pastors  10,  baptized  19,  present  membership 
1412.  A  year  of  great  barrenness  of  spiritual 
results.  Of  most  of  the  larger  Churches  there  is 
a  large  decline  in  membership  compared  with  10  years  ago. 
Des  Moines  1st  is  without  a  pastor.  High  Street  Church, 
recently  organized,  has  46  members,  S.  A.  Beaman  pastor. 
Rev.  W.  A.  Cain  is  pastor  at  Indianola,  C.  J.  Pendleton  at 
Knoxville  and  Rev.  J.  H.  Miller  is  preaching  at  Ceer  Creek, 
Hartford  and  Patterson.  No  pastor's  settlement  earlier 
than  last  year  except  G.  W.  Hertzog  whose  present  settle- 
ment at  Monroe  dates  from  1880.  In  1883  the  Annual 
meeting  was  at  Knoxville.  Churches  24,  pastors  13,  baptized 
J09,  total  membership  1477.  Rev.  C.  M.  Brink  has  become 
pasior  of  the  1st  Church  Des  Moines,  Rev.  F.  D.  Rickerson, 
D.  D.,  of  the  High  Street  Church ;  Rev.  Wm.  Tilly  at 
Knoxville,  and  Rev.  Amos  Weaver  at  Winterset.  Most 
of  the  baptisms  are  in  the  three  Des  Moines  Churches. 
1st  17,  East  Des  Moines  25,  High  Street  11.  In  Patterson, 
J.  H.  Miller  pastor,  24,  and  in  Winterset  16.  Rev.  W.  A. 
Cain  is  doing  a  good  work  at  Summerset.  Indianola  is 
pastorless. 

Meet  at  Yandalia.  Churches  28,  pastors  12,  baptized 
292,  total  membership  1802.  Additions  from  all  sources 
490.  East  Des  Moines  reports  60  baptized  and 
1884,  Indianola  129,  Monroe  34  and  Ohio  Church  in 
Madison  county,  J.  H.  Miller  pastor;  23.  These  are  the 
principle  larger  numbers.  The  numbers  of  baptisms  and 
additions  exceed  those  of  1869  but  considering  all  the 
Churches  that  remains  the  most  prosperous  yeai-.  Several 
new  Churches  have  been  organized.  Among  them  Kilduff, 
Rev.  Z.  A.  Bryant  pastor  with  11  members,  Milo,  T.  R. 
Stitt  pastor  with  20  members,  and  Ohio  and  Olivet,  J.  H. 
Miller  pastor  with  46  and  26  respectively.     Indianola  en- 


OF    IOWA   BAPTISTS.  178 

Rev.  R.  Garten,  83.  A  Church  has  been  organized  at  East 
Des  Moines,  Rev.  Granger  W.  Smith,  pastor;  9  baptisms 
and  63  members.  The  contributions  for  the  Convention 
this  year  are  $380.90.  Keeping  pace  pretty  well  with  the 
spiritual  prosperity.  Rev.  T.  R.  Stitt  is  preaching  at  Hart- 
ford. Rev.  Wm.  Tilly  has  become  pastor  at  Indianola. 
S.  Funk  at  Norwalk  and  Spring  Hill;  Rev.  Thomas  Miller 
at  Woodland.  Knoxville  is  without  a  pastor.  Brother  Frey 
having  returned  to  the  English  River  xVssociation,  after  a 
three  years'  service  there. 

Monroe   entertains    the   Association    this  year.      Amos 

Robinson  is  still  clerk.     The  names  of  several  Churches 

not  represented  are  dropped  out  of  the  table  this 

1  RVzL  '^  ■ 

year.  Some  of  them  will  certainly  reappear. 
Churches  17,  pastors  12,  baptisms  63,  members  1487.  Rev. 
John  Bodenham  appears  as  pastor  at  Carlisle,  A.  Robbins 
at  Knoxville,  D.  Simons  at  Hartford  and  Vandalia,  H.  S. 
Fish  at  Otley,  H.  C.  Warson  at  Spring  Hill,  Samuel  W. 
Lee  at  New  Virginia,  and  J.  Messenger  at  Clanton  Church. 
This  Church  some  10  miles  south  of  Winterset  was  dis- 
missed from  the  Western  Iowa  Association  in  1868,  and 
first  appears  in  these  minutes  in  1870  but  seems  to  have 
very  little  prosperity.  Reports  26  members.  In  1875  the 
meeting  was  at  Vandalia.  The  same  clerk  continued. 
Churches  21,  pastors  12,  bajjtisms  39,  total  membership 
1463.  Rev.  A  J.  Delano  has  succeeded  pastor  Garton  at 
Winterset,  after  an  interval  of  one  3'^ear.  Brother  Garton, 
after  a  pastorate  of  three  years  here,  removes  to  Waterloo, 
Iowa,  to  begin  one  of  the  notably  long  and  successful 
terms  of  pastoral  work  in  Iowa.  Rev,  J.  A.  Abbott  appears 
as  pastor  at  Monroe.  Brother  Messenger  at  Clanton  reports 
8  baptized  and  an  increase  of  membership  to  33.  The 
Patterson  Church,  S.  W.  Lee  pastor,  is  enrolled  with  61 
members  and  6  baptisms. 


176  HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES 

The  Association  meets  with  the  East  Des  Moines  Church. 
Churches  25,  pastors  10,  baptized  19,  present  membership 
1412.  A  year  of  great  barrenness  of  spiritual 
results.  Of  most  of  the  larger  Churches  there  is 
a  large  decline  in  membership  compared  with  10  years  ago. 
Des  Moines  1st  is  without  a  pastor.  High  Street  Church, 
recently  organized,  has  46  members,  S.  A.  Beaman  pastor. 
Rev.  W.  A.  Cain  is  pastor  at  Indianola,  C.  J.  Pendleton  at 
Knoxville  and  Rev.  J.  H.  Miller  is  preaching  at  Geer  Creek, 
Hartford  and  Patterson.  No  pastor's  settlement  earlier 
than  last  year  except  G.  W.  Hertzog  whose  present  settle- 
ment at  Monroe  dates  from  1880.  In  1883  the  Annual 
meeting  was  at  Knoxville.  Churches  24,  pastors  13,  baptized 
109,  total  membership  1477.  Rev.  C.  M.  Brink  has  become 
pastor  of  the  1st  Church  Des  Moines,  Rev.  F.  D.  Rickerson, 
D.  D.,  of  the  High  Street  Church ;  Rev.  Wm.  Tilly  at 
Knoxville,  and  Rev.  Amos  Weaver  at  Winterset.  Most 
of  the  baptisms  are  in  the  three  Des  Moines  Churches. 
1st  17,  East  Des  Moines  25,  High  Street  11.  In  Patterson, 
J.  H.  Miller  pastor,  24,  and  in  Winterset  16.  Rev.  W.  A. 
Cain  is  doing  a  good  work  at  Summerset.  Indianola  is 
pastorless. 

Meet  at  Yandalia.  Churches  28,  pastors  12,  baptized 
292,  total  membership  1802.  Additions  from  all  sources 
490.  East  Des  Moines  reports  60  baptized  and 
^^^^-  Indianola  129,  Monroe  34  and  Ohio  Church  in 
Madison  county,  J.  H.  Miller  pastor;  23.  These  are  the 
principle  larger  numbers.  The  numbers  of  baptisms  and 
additions  exceed  those  of  1869  but  considering  alj  the 
Churches  that  remains  the  most  prosperous  year.  Several 
new  Churches  have  been  organized.  Among  them  Kilduff, 
Rev.  Z.  A.  Bryant  pastor  with  11  members,  Milo,  T.  R. 
Stitt  pastor  with  20  members,  and  Ohio  and  Olivet,  J.  H. 
Miller  pastor  with  46  and  26  respectively.     Indianola  en- 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  177 

tertains  again  in  1885.  Cluirches  28,  pastors  12,  baptisms 
95,  members  1834.  Rev.  T.  S.  Bovell  has  become  pastor  at 
Indianola,  L.  F.  Compton  at  Newton,  and  Harry  Woodson 
at  Carlisle  and  Hartford. 

The  Central  Association  held  its  thirty-fifth  annual 
meeting  at  Carlisle.  Brother  E.  F.  Sperry  has  been  clerk 
since  1878.  The  number  of  Churches  is  now  25, 
pastors  13,  baptisms  reported  79,  total  member- 
ship 1785.  Rev.  F.  D.  Rickerson,  D.  D.,  closed  his  work  at 
High  street  Des  Moines  in  the  fall  of  1885,  and  became  pas- 
tor at  Sioux  City.  He  is  succeeded  at  High  street  by  E.  F. 
Strickland,  D.  D.  Rev.  L.  F.  Compton  is  pastor  at  New- 
ton and  at  Killduff,  and  Rev.  G.  C.  Peck  at  Winterset. 
Other  new  names  in  the  pastors'  list  are  W.  H.  Sayre  at 
Deer  Creek,  R.  R.  Albin  at  Knoxville,  and  C.  A.  Price  at 
Sherman.  The  post  office  address  of  the  last  named  is  at 
Colfax. 

The  great  revival  at  Indianola  in  1884,  wherein  129 
were  baptized  was  under  the  powerful  ministrations  of  the 
spirit  through  Rev.  W.  A.  Welsher,  D.  D.  who  remained 
with  the  Church  through  several  months  and  was  succeeded 
by  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  T.  S.  Bovell.  The  Moderators  of 
the  Central  Association  have  been:  1852,  W.  D.  Everett; 
1858-4,  B.  B.  Arnold ;  1856,  D.  Taylor ;  1857  to  1865  inclu- 
sive, Joshua  Currier ;  1866-7,  J.  A.  Nash ;  1868-9,  T.  R. 
Cressey;  1870-72,  J.  Frey;  1873,  J.  R.  Mnrphy;  1874,0-.  W. 
Hertzog;  1875,  F.  Mott;  1876,  J.  A.  Abbott;  and  for  the 
successive  years  since,  J.  Fulton,  Amos  Robinson,  W.  A. 
Cain,  D.  D.  Proper,  W.  A.  Welsher,  D.  D.,  J.  A.  Nash,  D. 
D.,  J.  H.  Miller,  C.  M.  Brink,  W.  A.  Cain  and  T.  S.  Bovell. 
The  clerks  from  the  organization  in  their  order  have  been : 
J.  A.  Nash,  three  years;  S.  G.  Hunt,  three  years;  E.  O. 
Whitaker,  one  year ;  J.   A.  Todd,  one  year;  R.  D.  Harts- 


180  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Bond  and  liis  father,  (there  was  as  early  as  1848  a  small 
organization  near  Oskaloosa,  reporting  31  members,  Rev. 
J.  Bond,  pastor;  Ed.),  but  in  the  main  the  statement  was 
correct. 

The  town  of  Fort  Des  Moines^  at  that  time,  contained 
about  500  inhabitants.  On  the  18th  day  of  January,  1851, 
a  Baptist  Church  was  organized  consisting  of  14  members. 
This  body  at  once  proceeded  to  secure  a  lot  and  inaugurate 
plans  for  building  a  house  of  worship,  occupying  in  the 
meantime,  the  court  house,  dividing  the  time  with  several 
other  denominations;  sometimes  permitted  to  have  it  one- 
half  of  the  time,  sometimes  one-fonrth  and  one  fifth  of  the 
time,  according  as  the  other  denominations  had  or  had  not 
preachers.  Most  commonl}^  the  time  was  divided  with  the 
New  School  Presbyterians,  Rev.  Thompson  Bird,  pastor, 
with  whom  the  missionary  labored  side  by  side  until  the 
death  of  Mr.  Bird,  some  15  years  in  all.  He  was  a  friend 
and  brother  and  counselor,  and  the  highest  type  of  a 
Christian  minister  and  gentleman. 

It  was  the  intention  of  the  Home  Mission  Society  to 
have  the  missionary  to  preach  in  Des  Moines  every  Lord's 
Day,  but  for  reasons  above  mentioned  this  was  impossible. 
Hence  he  established  appointments  in  the  surrounding 
regions,  not  only  on  Lord's  Days  but  on  week  day  evenings. 
The  Church  next  organized  after  Des  Moines  (first  called 
Fort  Des  Moines,  but  now  taking  the  simpler  name),  was 
Corey  Grove,  some  15  miles  to  the  northeast  of  the  city. 
There  were  several  families  of  Baptists  and  the  Church 
prospered  for  several  years,  and  a  few  were  baptized,  but 
by  removals  the  Church  became  essentially  merged  in  the 
Church  which  was  subsequently  formed  at  Iowa  Center, 
where  a  town  was  laid  out,  and  a  house  of  worship  was 
erected.    It  may  be  remarked  here  once  for  all,  that  the  mis- 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  177 

tertains  again  in  1885.  Churches  28,  pastors  12,  baptisms 
95,  members  1834.  Rev.  T.  S.  Bovell  has  become  pastor  at 
Indianola,  L.  F.  Compton  at  Newton,  and  Harry  Woodson 
at  Carlisle  and  Hartford. 

The   Central   Association   held   its   thirtj^-fifth  annual 

meeting  at  Carlisle.     Brother  E.  F.  Sperry  has  been  clerk 

since  1878.      The  number  of  Churches  is  now  25, 

1886.  r.      ,  . 

pastors  13,  baptisms  reported  79,  total  member- 
ship 1785.  Rev.  F.  D.  Rickerson,  D.  D.,  closed  his  work  at 
High  street  Des  Moines  in  the  fall  of  1885,  and  became  pas- 
tor at  Sioux  City.  He  is  succeeded  at  High  street  by  E.  F. 
Strickland,  D.  D.  Rev.  L.  F.  Compton  is  pastor  at  New- 
ton and  at  Killduff,  and  Rev.  G.  C.  Peck  at  Winterset. 
Other  new  names  in  the  pastors'  list  are  W.  H.  Say  re  at 
Deer  Creek,  R.  R.  Albin  at  Knoxville,  and  C.  A.  Price  at 
Sherman.  The  post  office  address  of  the  last  named  is  at 
Colfax. 

The  great  revival  at  Indianola  in  1884,  wherein  129 
were  baptized  was  under  the  powerful  ministrations  of  the 
spirit  through  Rev.  W.  A.  Welsher,  D.  D.  who  remained 
with  the  Church  through  several  months  and  was  succeeded 
by  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  T.  S.  Bovell.  The  Moderators  of 
the  Central  Association  have  been  :  1852,  W.  D.  Everett; 
1853-4,  B.  B.  Arnold ;  1856,  D.  Taylor ;  1857  to  1865  inclu- 
sive, Joshua  Currier ;  1866-7,  J.  A.  Nash ;  1868-9,  T.  R. 
Cressey;  1870-72,  J.  Frey;  1873,  J.  R.  Murphy;  1874,  G.  W. 
Hertzog;  1875,  F.  Mott;  1876,  J.  A.  Abbott:  and  for  the 
successive  years  since,  J.  Fulton,  Amos  Robinson,  W.  A. 
Cain,  D.  D.  Proper,  W.  A.  Welsher,  D.  D.,  J.  A.  Nash,  D. 
D.,  J.  H.  Miller,  C.  M.  Brink,  W.  A.  Cain  and  T.  S.  Bovell. 
The  clerks  from  the  organization  in  their  order  have  been  : 
J.  A.  Nash,  three  years ;  S.  G.  Hunt,  three  years  ;  E.  O. 
Whitaker,  one  year;  J.   A.  Todd,  one  year:  R.  D.  Harts- 


180  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Bond  and  his  father,  (there  was  as  early  as  1848  a  small 
organization  near  Oskaloosa,  reporting  31  members,  Rev. 
J.  Bond,  pastor;  Ed.),  but  in  the  main  the  statement  was 
correct. 

The  town  of  Fort  Des  Moines,  at  that  time,  contained 
about  500  inhabitants.  On  the  18th  day  of  January,  1851, 
a  Baptist  Church  was  organized  consisting  of  14  members. 
This  body  at  once  proceeded  to  secure  a  lot  and  inaugurate 
plans  for  building  a  house  of  worship,  occupying  in  the 
meantime,  the  court  house,  dividing  the  ^time  with  several 
other  denominations;  sometimes  permitted  to  have  it  one- 
half  of  the  time,  sometimes  one-fourth  and  one-fifth  of  the 
time,  according  as  the  other  denominations  had  or  had  not 
preachers.  Most  commonly  the  time  was  divided  with  the 
New  School  Presbyterians,  Rev.  Thompson  Bird,  pastor, 
with  Avliom  the  missionary  labored  side  by  side  until  the 
death  of  Mr.  Bird,  some  15  years  in  all.  He  was  a  friend 
and  brother  and  counselor,  and  the  highest  type  of  a 
Christian  minister  and  gentleman. 

It  was  the  intention  of  the  Home  Mission  Society  to 
have  the  missionary  to  preach  in  Des  Moines  every  Lord's 
Day,  but  for  reasons  above  mentioned  this  was  impossible. 
Hence  he  established  appointments  in  the  surrounding 
regions,  not  only  on  Lord's  Days  but  on  week  day  evenings. 
The  Church  next  organized  after  Des  Moines  (first  called 
Fort  Des  Moines,  but  now  taking  the  simpler  name),  was 
Corey  Grove,  some  15  miles  to  the  northeast  of  the  city. 
There  were  several  families  of  Baptists  and  the  Church 
prospered  for  several  years,  and  a  few  were  baptized,  but 
by  removals  the  Church  became  essentially  merged  in  the 
Church  which  was  subsequently  formed  at  Iowa  Center, 
where  a  town  was  laid  out,  and  a  housd  of  worship  was 
erected.    It  may  be  remarked  here  once  for  all,  that  the  mis- 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  181 

sionary  many  times  organized  cliurclies  where  he  had  no 
strong  expectation  or  prospect  of  the  organization  becoming 
permanent  or  perpetual.  For  intance,  there  were  found  in  a 
neighborhood  several  Baptist  families  and  individuals,  or,  a 
revival  breaks  out  and  the  converts  too  far  away  to  be  identi- 
fied with  an  existing  Church.  There  is  no  town  near,  nor  can 
it  be  foretold  where  a  town  will  be  located.  The  obvious 
duty  is  to  gather  them  together,  organize  a  Church,  start  a 
Sunday  School  and  get  the  members  actively  at  work, 
and  then  look  after  them,  preach  to  them  or  provide  them 
with  preaching  until  they  are  strong  enough  to  care  for 
themselves.  In  this  way  families  and  members  are  kept 
under  Baptist  influence,  and  in  active  sympathy  with 
Baptist  work.  Thus  they  are  ready  when  they  remove  to 
other  homes,  or  the  center  of  population  changes,  to  iden- 
tify themselves  with,  perhaps  to  lead  out  in  establishing 
Churches  which  become  permanent  organizations.  From 
long  experience  and  observation  he  became  more  and  more 
convinced  of  the  wisdom  and  necessity  of  such  procedure, 
and  that  the  opposite  course  would  be  often  to  throw 
away  the  fruits  of  much  of  the  severest  missionary  toil, 
to  be  harvested  by  other  denominations.  This  is  too  obvi- 
ous to  need  argument. 

In  the  following  summer  and  autumn  preaching  was 
commenced  in  Hartford,  15  miles  south  and  east  from  Des 
Moines,  where  there  was  a  hopeful  outlook  for  a  revival 
and  for  a  Church.  In  the  mean  time,  learning  that  there 
were  some  Baptists  about  six  miles  south  in  a  neiglibor- 
liood  called  Keokuk  Prairie,  near  the  site  of  one  of  Keo- 
kuk's villages,  and  where  there  then  existed  an  Indian 
burying  ground ;  the  missionary  sought  them  out,  but 
found  that  they  were  anti-mission  Baptists  and  opposed  to 
Sunday  Schools.  He  obtained  an  invitation  to  preach 
there,  which  he  acc^epted,  or  left  an  appointment,  and  in  due 


184  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

ences  in  order  to  maintain  the  particular  views  of  the 
Baptists,  and  were  worshiping  happily  together.  The 
pastor  .from  Des  Moines  visited  them,  preached  to  them, 
and  ultimately  secured  for  them  a  pastor  of  Missionary 
Baptist  views.  In  process  of  time,  and  with  advance  sen- 
timents, a  Church  of  our  order  was  duly  organized  at 
Monroe,  a  house  of  worship  built,  and  the  visibility  of  the 
old  organization  disappeared.  Preaching  was  commenced 
at  Newton,  the  county  seat  of  Jasper  county.  Here,  too,  a 
Church  was  formed,  a  house  of  worship  and  a  parsonage 
erected,  and  a  pastor  settled. 

Calls  for  aid  came  from  Panora,  county  seat  of  Guthrie 
county.  The  Des  Moines  pastor  visited  them  and  a  Church 
was  finally  organized;  and  another  at  A  del,  county  seat  of 
Dallas  county.  An  urgent  call  came  from  Winterset,  the 
county  seat  of  Madison  county,  to  the  Baptist  pastor  at 
Des  Moines.  He  visited  them,  hunted  up  the  Baptist 
members,  and  some  months  later  a  Council  met  and  recog- 
nized them  as  a  Church.  The}^  settled  a  pastor  and  built 
a  commodious  house  of  worship  In  the  winter  of  1863-4  he 
visited  them  again,  and  a  series  of  meetings  continued 
nearly  a  month,  and  near  thirty  were  baptized  into  the  fel- 
lowship of  the  Church.  The  Church  was  greatly  strength- 
ened, and  under  successive  pastors,  and  in  general  revivals 
so  increased  in  numbers  that  at  one  time  it  was  one  of  the 
strongest  Churches  in  Iowa. 

In  Grinnell  were  some  Baptists  from  northern  and  western 
New  York,  some  of  whom  had  known  the  missionary  in 
years  gone  by,  at  the  former  home  in'the  older  state.  They 
suggested  and  procured  from  the  others  an  invitation  for 
him  to  visit  them  and  assist  in  gathering  together  and 
organize  them  into  a  Churcli.  He  went  and  preached,  and 
baptized   several  converts   from   a  revival   previously  en- 


OF  IOWA    BAPTISTS.  181 

sionary  many  times  organized  churches  where  he  had  no 
strong  expectation  or  prospect  of  the  organization  becoming 
permanent  or  perpetual.  For  intance,  there  were  found  in  a 
neighborhood  several  Baptist  families  and  individuals,  or,  a 
revival  breaks  out  and  the  converts  too  far  away  to  be  identi- 
fied with  an  existing  Church.  There  is  no  town  near,  nor  can 
it  be  foretold  where  a  town  will  be  located.  The  obvious 
duty  is  to  gather  them  together,  organize  a  Church,  start  a 
Sunday  School  and  get  the  members  actively  at  work, 
and  then  look  after  them,  preach  to  them  or  provide  them 
with  preaching  until  they  are  strong  enough  to  care  for 
themselves.  In  this  way  families  and  members  are  kept 
under  Baptist  influence,  and  in  active  sympathy  with 
Baptist  work.  Thus  they  are  ready  when  they  remove  to 
other  homes,  or  the  center  of  population  changes,  to  iden- 
tify themselves  with,  perhaps  to  lead  out  in  establishing 
Churches  which  become  permanent  organizations.  From 
long  experience  and  observation  he  became  more  and  more 
convinced  of  the  wisdom  and  necessity  of  such  procedure, 
and  that  the  opposite  course  would  be  often  to  throw 
away  the  fruits  of  much  of  the  severest  missionary  toil, 
to  be  harvested  by  other  denominations.  This  is  too  obvi- 
ous to  need  argument. 

In  the  following  summer  and  autumn  preaching  was 
commenced  in  Hartford,  15  miles  south  and  east  from  Des 
Moines,  where  there  was  a  hopeful  outlook  for  a  revival 
and  for  a  Church.  In  the  mean  time,  learning  that  there 
were  some  Baptists  about  six  miles  south  in  a  neighbor- 
hood called  Keokuk  Prairie,  near  the  site  of  one  of  Keo- 
kuk's villages,  and  where  there  then  existed  an  Indian 
burying  ground ;  the  missionary  sought  them  out,  but 
found  that  they  were  anti-mission  Baptists  and  opposed  to 
Sunday  Schools.  He  obtained  an  invitation  to  preach 
there,  which  heacciepted,  or  left  an  appointment,  and  in  due 


184  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

ences  in  order  to  maintain  the  particular  views  of  the 
Baptists,  and  were  worshiping  happily  together.  The 
pastor  from  Des  Moines  visited  them,  preached  to  them, 
and  ultimately  secured  for  them  a  pastor  of  Missionary 
Baptist  views.  In  process  of  time,  and  with  advance  sen- 
timents, a  Church  of  our  order  was  duly  organized  at 
Monroe,  a  house  of  worship  built,  and  the  visibility  of  the 
old  organization  disappeared.  Preaching  was  commenced 
at  Newton,  the  county  seat  of  Jasper  county.  Here,  too,  a 
Church  w^as  formed,  a  house  of  worship  and  a  parsonage 
erected,  and  a  pastor  settled. 

Calls  for  aid  came  from  Panora,  count}^  seat  of  Guthrie 
county.  The  Des  Moines  pastor  visited  them  and  a  Church 
was  finally  organized;  and  another  at  Adel,  county  seat  of 
Dallas  county.  An  urgent  call  came  from  Winterset,  the 
county  seat  of  Madison  county,  to  the  Baptist  pastor  at 
Des  Moines.  He  visited  them,  hunted  up  the  Baptist 
members,  and  some  months  later  a  Council  met  and  recog- 
nized them  as  a  Church.  They  settled  a  pastor  and  btiilt 
a  commodious  house  of  worship  In  the  winter  of  1863-4  he 
visited  them  again,  and  a  series  of  meetings  continued 
nearly  a  month,  and  near  thirty  were  baptized  into  the  fel- 
lowship of  the  Church.  The  Church  was  greatly  strength- 
ened, and  under  successive  pastors,  and  in  general  revivals 
so  increased  in  numbers  that  at  one  time  it  was  one  of  the 
strongest  Churches  in  Iowa. 

In  Grinnell  were  some  Baptists  from  northern  and  western 
New  York,  some  of  whom  had  known  the  missionary  in 
years  gone  by,  at  the  former  home  in'the  older  state.  They 
suggested  and  procured  from  the  others  an  invitation  for 
him  to  visit  them  and  assist  in  gathering  together  and 
organize  them  into  a  Church.  He  went  and  preached,  and 
baptized   several  converts   from   a  revival   previously  en- 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  185 

joyed  in  tlie  town,  and  aided  tlieni  in  organizing  the 
Church;  nnd  although  their  number  was  small,  and  finan- 
cially tli(^y  were  weak,  they  resolutely,  and  as  rhe  heart  of 
one  man,  set  to  work  to  erect  a  house  of  worship;  some 
going  to  the  woods,  cutting  logs,  hauling  them  to  the  mill 
and  getting  them  converted  into  lumber,  some  doing  the 
carpenter  work,  others  the  mason  work,  and  some  con- 
tributing money.  The  people  had  a  mind  to  work,  "and 
so  the  walls  were  built"  and  the  finishing  was  completed, 
and  "there  were  shoutings  of  grace,  grace  unto  it.''  It 
should  be  added  that  the  railroad  company  gave  them  the 
lot,  and  thus  the  first  house  of  worship  raised  in  Grinnell  was 
built  by  the  Baptists.  The  founder  of  Grinnell,  and 
after  whom  the  town  was  named,  met  the  aforesaid  Des 
Moines  pastor  away  from  their  respective  homes,  during 
the  work  of  the  Church  building,  and  remarked,  "I  do  not 
see  how  those  Baptists  can  build  a  house  of  worship,  I  do 
not  know  that  any  of  them  have  much  means,  and  I  am 
sure  the  Congregationalists  would  not  dare  to  attempt 
building."  CTrinnell  was  settled  by  a  colony  of  Congrega- 
tionalists, and  it  was  their  aim  and  boast  that  the  plat- 
form of  their  Church  was  so  broad  and  liberal  and  their 
creed  so  elastic  and  accommodating  as  to  embrace  all 
religious  creeds  and  views,  and  so  have  but  one  denomina- 
tion of  Christians  in  the  town,  namely,  Congregationalists. 
But  the  "iron  bed-stead"  of  the  Baptists  could  neither  be 
"stretched"  nor  "cut  off"  with  facile  adjustments,  and 
hence  they  went  on  and  formed  a  distinctive  Church,  and 
history  shows  that  many  have  found  their  home  and  the 
inspiration  of  their  religious  life  and  work  therein. 

But  time  and  space  forbid  to  speak  in  detail  of  the 
Churches  gathered  at  Indianola,  Summerset,  Adel,  Pe- 
oria City,  Norwalk,  Reeve's  Settlement,  Montpelier,  Stuart, 
Prairie  City,  Polk  City,  East  Des  Moines,  etc.,  etc.,  som>e 


186 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES.. 


30  in  all,  which  are  now  or  have  been  connected  with  the 
Central  Association.  Among  the  earlier  ministers  associa- 
ted in  this  field  vve  name  in  this  reminiscence,  Russell, 
Evans,  Guild,  Currier,  Bond,  the  Arnolds,  Townsend, 
Sparks  and  others  who  hare  wrought  well  in  their  various 
spheres.  The  Central  Association  was  organised  at  Van- 
dalia  and  held  its  first  regular  meeting  in  the  autumn  of 
1852  with  the  Church  near  Monroe,  then  called  Harmony 
Church. 

Besides  the  houses  of  worship  now  owned  by  Baptists 
in  Des  Moines,  there  are  houses  on  the  field  covered  by 
this  sketch  in  Winterset,  Boone,  Perry,  Peoples' Neighbor- 
hood, Newton,  Killduff,  Hartford,  Carlisle,  Indianola,  Van- 
dalia,  Sandj^ville,  Stuart,  Monroe,  Norwalk,  Summerset, 
Kinsey  Settlement,  Grinnell,  and  perhaps  other  points. 
Some  anecdotes  connected  with  the  subject  of  this  chapter 
will  appear  in  another  place. 


-'^^^s 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


Eden  Associatiois' — OrgajS^ized  ix  1853 — First  Appears 
Upon  our  Records  in  1856 — The  Pioneer 
IN  State   Convention  Missions. 
1855  TO  1886. 


DEN  Association  comes  next  to  the  Central  in 
date  of  organization.  Said  to  have  been  or- 
ganized in  in  1853,  its  first  appearance  in  our 
records  is  in  1855,  when  the  list  of  churches, 
pastors,  numbers  baptized  for  the  year,  and 
total  membership  in  the  order  named  is  as  follows  :  New 
Garden,  A.  Yanderpool,  1,  51 ;  Peoria,  Wm.  Barnett,  5,  37; 
Bethel;  16  members  ;  New  Providence,  no  pastor,  14  bap- 
tisms, 44  members ;  Pleasant  Hill,  I.  M.  Seay,  20,  71 ;  Vernal, 
I.  M.  Seay,  6,  56  ;  Goshen,  no  pastor,  12  members  ;  Walnut 
Creek,  40  members ;  Unionville,  1,  13 ;  Bethesda,  H.  Pearce, 
12,  39 ;  Bremen,  S.  Dewese,  2,  18 ;  Union,  A.  M.  Green,  1, 
13;  Mount  Eden,  no  i^astor.  3,  20 ;  Mount  Pleasant,  no  pas- 
tor, 3,  20.  The  Association  therefore  starts  out  with  14 
Churches,  6  pastors,  reports  66  baptisms  and  450  members. 
The  Bethesda  Church  was  in  the  southwest  part  of  Madi- 
son county  some  12  or  14  miles  from  Winterset.  Bremen 
about  the  same  distance  northwest  of  Albia,  Monroe  county. 


188  HISTOKICAL   SKETCHES 

Otherwise  the  territory  of  the  Eden  Association  was  chiefly 
in  Wayne,  Ringgold,  Lucas,  Claris,  Union,  and  possibly 
Appanoose  counties.  In  1856,  as  elsewhere  noticed,  Rev. 
I.  M.  Seay  received  the  first  commission  issued  by  the  Iowa 
Baptist  State  Convention  to  labor  as  its  Missionary,  "  It 
being  understood  that  his  labors  should  be  principally 
expended  within  the  limits  of  the  Eden  Association."  In 
1857  there  were  Churches  16,  pastors  8,  baptized  49,  total 
membership  552.  Chariton,  Moravia  and  Albia  are  repre- 
sented by  small  Churches.  The  pastors  are  T.  Davis,  Wm. 
Barnett,  A.  M.  Green,  A.  Thompson,  S.  Dewese,  J.  AV. 
Bolster,  and  L.  L.  Greenlee.     L.  L.  Greenlee  is  clerk. 

The  Annual  meeting  is  with  the  Bremen  Church  in  the 
northwest  part  of  Monroe  county.     J.  D.  Morris,  Corydon, 

is  clerk.     A  year  of  very  great  prosperity.     Rev. 

A.  Thompson  has  labored  as  Missionary  of  the 
Convention  for  this  Association  with  marked  success ;  has 
baptized  82  himself  and  reports  that  214  have  been  con- 
verted. Churches  19,  pastors  9,  baptisms  205,  total  mem- 
bership 774.  Chariton  reports  Rev.  Wm.  Whitehead  as 
pastor,  and  Albia  Rev;  J.  W.  Bolster.  In  1859  Mount 
Eden  is  the  place  of  meeting,  N.  M.  Longfellow  of  Center- 
ville  clerk..  Churches  21,  pastors  10.  baptized  110,  total 
membership  868.  Rev.  John  Warren  is  pastor  at  Chariton 
where  he  has  been  ordained  during  the  year.  This  is  the 
step-father  of  Dr.  G.  J.  Johnson.  Rev.  D.  Winters  is  active 
among  the  ministers  of  the  Association.  Rev.  J.  Parker  is 
preaching  at  Walnut  Creek  and  Moravia,  and  Rev.  'N. 
Hays  is  at  Albia. 

Peoria  is  the  place  of  the  Annual  meeting  this  year,  N. 
M.  Longfellow  clerk.      Another  quite  successful  year  is 
reported.     One  new  Church,  the  Little  Flock,  is 
added  this  year.     Churches  22,  pastors  10,  bap- 
tized  135,   members   965.      Nearly  all   the   Churches   are 


OF    IOWA   BAPTISTS.  189 

supplied  witli  preaching  a  part  of  the  time.  Among  the 
pastors  not  noticed  before  is  Rev.  J.  L.  Cole  at  Corydon,  W. 
Drummond  at  Pleasant  Hill,  and  H.  S.  Cloud  at  Bremen, 
Lovilla  PostofRce.  The  Association  met  in  1861  at  Union- 
ville.  Brother  D.  T.  Case  is  clerk.  Churches  24,  pastors 
11,  baptized  48,  total  membership  980.  Received  the  New 
Hope  and  Wayne  Churches,  and  dismissed  the  Bremen 
(Lovilla)  Church  to  unite  with  the  Oskaloosa  Association. 
Rev.  J.  L.  Cole  has  labored  at  Corydon  as  Missionary  of 
the  Convention  part  of  the  year  but  finds  it  a  very  dis- 
couraging field  at  the  present  time.  The  proximity  to 
Missouri  and  the  unhappy  state  of  things  there,  are  men- 
tioned as  principle  elements  of  discouragement. 

The  Association  met  with  the  Bethlehem  Church, 
Wayne  county,  D.  Given  clerk.  The  statistics  this  year 
are  very  imperfect,  and  results  nearly  the  same 
as  last  year.  In  1863  the  Mt.  Ararat  Church,  six 
miles  east  of  Centerville,  is  the  place  of  meeting,  T.  Davis 
Greenville,  clerk.  Churches  25,  pastors  15,  baptisms  57, 
total  membership  1029.  Met  in  1864  with  the  Union  Church, 
A.  H.  Dunlap,  Chariton,  clerk.  Six  Churches  not  reporting 
this  year  are  left  out  of  the  list,  leaving  Churches  18, 
pastors  9,  baptized  48,  total  membership  of  the  reporting 
Churches  728.  Pastors  not  before  noticed  in  the  Associa- 
tion, Wm.  Hildreth  at  Chariton,  I.  Blakely  at  Columbia, 
A.  Haines  at  Little  Flock,  J.  Christie  at  New  Providence, 
C.  Bullock  at  Union,  and  T.  W.  Jones  at  Wayne. 

Met  with  the  Chariton  Church,  Friday  before  the  third 

Sabbath   in    September.       A.    H.   Dunlap,   clerk.       Eight 

Churches  of  this  Association  were  dropped  from 

the  list,  not  having  reported  for  several  years. 

Two  of  the  pastors  have  died  during  the  year,  viz.,  Rev. 

Isaac  Christie  and  Dr.  A.  W.  Everett.     Rev.  N.  Hays  has 


190  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

labored  as  itinerating  missionary  under  the  appointment 
of  the  State  Convention,  and  reports  56  baptized.  There 
are  now  18  Cliurches,  7  pastors,  105  baptized  and  a  total 
membershijj  of  798.  In  1866  the  annual  meeting  was  with 
the  Cambria  Church.  A.  H.  Dunlap,  clerk.  Churches  17; 
pastors  9;  baptized  73;  total  membership  770.  Brother 
Bolster  reports  34  baptisms  at  Franklin  and  Brother 
Haines  18  at  Little  Flock.  Brother  Bolster  has  been 
laboring  for  a  part  of  the  year  as  missionary  pastor  at 
Centerville,  in  the  Fox  River  Association,  but  on  the  4th 
of  August  was  laid  aside  with  a  stroke  of  paralysis,  from 
which  he  has  since  only  partially  recovered.  Rev.  I.  A. 
Blakesley  received  appointment  and  labored  in  this  Asso- 
ciation as  missionary  for  two  or  three  months,  when  o wing- 
to  ill  health  he  was  obliged  to  practically  suspend  labor. 
The  Association  at  its  annual  meeting  selected  Rev.  N. 
Hays  as  their  missionary  again  and  asked  the  Convention 
for  aid  to  sustain  him.  In  1867  the  place  of  meeting  un- 
known. Clerk,  A.  H.  Dunlap.  Statistics  same  as  last 
year.  $73.75  were  raised  for  Convention  work,  and  the 
itinerating  missionary  was  employed  a  part  of  the  year. 

Dixon  Given  is  clerk.  There  are  now  22  Churches,  14 
pastors,  200  baptisms  reported  and  a  total  membership  of 
1,051.  It  has  been  another  year  of  revival,  evi- 
dently.  Albia  reports  29  baptized,  J.  C.  Miller, 
pastor,  transient.  Chariton  23,  L.  Casler,  pastor.  Noth- 
ing further  is  remembered  of  this  name,  and  it  does  not 
again  appear — may  be  a  mistake.  During  a  part  of  this 
year  and  last,  Rev.  P.  S.  Whitman  did  valuable  work  as 
pastor  here  at  Chariton.  The  writer  remembers  a  Sabbath 
spent  here  and  a  sort  of  dedication,  or  reopening  of  the 
meeting  house  which  had  been  undergoing  repairs.  There 
were  four  or  five  hundred  dollars  to  raise,  and  it  was  a 
doubtful  pull.     During  the  effort  a  stranger  arose  in  the 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  191 

congregation  and  gave  850.  No  body  knew  him,  and  it 
was  a  surprise  and  an  inspiration.  The  name  is  not 
remembered,  but  he  had  just  moved  into  the  neighborhood 
of  Russell,  some  9  miles  east  of  town,  and  hearing  of  the 
meeting  at  Chariton,  he  "came"  and  "saw"  and  "con- 
quered "  that  debt  with  his  gift,  for  the  effort  was  a  suc- 
cess, assured  thereby.  Mount  Ararat,  A.  Saladay,  pastor, 
also  reports  22  baptisms.  Rev.  AV.  H.  Turton  appears  as 
pastor  at  Franklin;  Livingston  P.  O.  The  Association  in 
1869  met  at  Goshen  Church,  west  of  Chariton.  Moderator, 
Wm.  Barnett,  clerk,  D.  Given,  Churches  23;  pastors  13; 
baptisms  132;  members  1,270.  Prosperity  again  attends. 
Rev.  L.  S.  Livermore  is  preaching  at  Chariton.  Albia  is 
pastorless,  but  reports  36  baptisms  and  100  members. 
But  numbers  do  not  always  assure  an  efficient  or  a  living 
Church.  They  must  be  lively  stones  or  the  work  of  gath- 
ering is  in  vain. 

Met  with  the  Mount  Pleasant  Church.  Elijah  Craw- 
ford, of  Corydon,  clerk.  Churches  25;  pastors  12;  bap- 
tized  96;  total  membership  1,312.  Eleven  of  the 
Churches  report  Church  property  valued  at  $22,- 
800.  The  largest  number  of  baptisms  is  at  Livingston. 
Franklin  Church,  Rev.  L  G.  Parker,  pastor,  25.  The  largest 
Churches  in  the  Association  are  in  the  country.  Mount 
Ararat  leads  with  166  members,  Goshen  107,  Albia  makes 
no  report  this  year  but  is  counted  100  members,  from  last 
year's  report,  Chariton  91  and  Corydon  47.  In  1871  the 
Association  met  at  Livingston.  Elijah  Crawford,  clerk. 
Churches  25;  pastors  15;  baptized  95;  total  membership 
1,355.  Albia  drops  to  69.  Only  one  Church  reports  above 
100.  Meeting  in  1872  at  Peoria,  September  10.  Elijah 
Crawford  still  clerk.  Churches  and  pastors  without 
marked  charge.  Sixty-six  baptisms  reported  and  1,346 
members.      Chariton  and  Corydon,  county  seats,  without 


192  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

pastors.  The  name  of  the  Albia  Charch  disappears,  and 
reappears  in  the  Oskaloosa  Association  with  14  members. 
In  1873  Otter  Creek  was  the  place  of  the  annual  gathering. 
E.  Crawford,  Peoria,  clerk.  The  organization  of  tlie 
Centerville  Association  on  the  east  takes  several  Chnrclies 
from  this  body.  We  miss  Mount  Ararat,  the  largest 
Church  in  the  Association.  Churches  15;  pastors  j9; 
baptized  85;  present  membership  649.  Rev.  W.  Stur- 
geon, from  Illinois,  is  pastor  at  Chariton,  Rev.  J.  M.  Nel- 
son at  Corydon.  Peoria,  Rev.  Wm.  Barnett,  pastor,  is 
now  the  largest  Church,  having  102  members;  21  baptized 
the  present  year.  Met  iii  1874  at  Corydon.  E.  Crawford 
still  clerk.  Rev.  L.  M.  Newell  appears  as  pastor  at  Cory- 
don. Churches  18;  pastors  10;  baptisms  29;  members  762. 
Chariton,  Rev.  Wm.  Sturgeon,  reports  12  baptized.  None 
other  more  than  three. 

The  Association  met  with  the  Goshen  Church.  Brother 
Crawford  still  serving  as  clerk.  Churches  17;  pastors  6; 
baptized,  onl}'  3;  total  membership  690,  against 
700  last  year.  The  figures  need  no  comment 
to  show  fearful  decline  in  spiritual  power.  Doubtless, 
could  we  have  attended  this  anniversary  we  should  have 
found  faithful  hearts  bowed  low  in  humiliation  and  anxi- 
ous supplication  for  a  return  of  the  Spirit's  c|uickening 
presence.  Shall  we  see  evidences  of  it  in  the  next  or  sub- 
sequent reports?  Assembled  in  1876  at  Bethlehem  Church 
Elijah  Crawford,  clerk,  is  now  located  at  Allerton.  An 
improvement  upon  last  3^ear  is  shown  in  the  reports, 
though  no  very  marked  revivals.  Churches  16;  pastors 
5;  baptized  39;  total  membership  522.  Rev.  Wm.  Stur- 
geon has  closed  his  labors  at  Chariton  and  is  preaching  at 
Corydon.  Ten  were  baptized  at  Chariton  and  they  are 
now  without  a  pastor. 

The  anniversary  is  at  Confidence;  clerk,  Rev.  D.  Given. 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  193 

A   Church   at  Allerton   is    reported  with   nine   members. 

Churches  14,  pastors  4,  baptized  43,  members  611. 

Cambria,  J.  M.  Nelson  pastor,  report  18  baptisms; 
Peoria,  Wm.  Bariiett,  15,  and  Highland,  L.  L.  Greenlee,  5. 
Ten  churches  report  no  preaching,  among  them  Corydon 
and  Chariton,  although  the  latter  reports  three  baptized 
and  twenty  added  by  letter.  Evidently  they  have  had 
preaching  a  part  of  the  year.  Cambria  has  the  Associa- 
tion again  in  1878.  D.  Given  clerk;  churches  13,  pastors  4, 
preaching  to  9  churches;  baptized  49,  membership  565.  Rev. 
F.  M.  Archer  is  preaching  at  Cambria  and  Corydon,  the 
other  pastors  are  D.  Winters,  Wm.  Barnett,  and  G.  W. 
Smith  who  reports  22  baptisms  at  Otter  Creek,  Brother 
Barnett  ]?  at  Goshen.  Met  in  1879  at  Highland  Church, 
M.  Nelson,  Cambria,  clerk.  Rev.  B.  F.  Mace  is  pastor  at 
Chariton  and  reports  8  baptized.  F.  M.  Archer  13  at  Cam- 
bria and  G.  W.  Smith  18  at  Otter  Creek.  Rev.  A.  C.  Ed- 
wards appears  at  Allerton.  A  church  at  Russell  has  ap- 
peared in  the  minutes  this  year  and  last  with  22  members 
and  no  other  statistics.  There  are  good  elements  here  and 
this  Church  will  be  heard  from  ere  long.  Churches  14,  pas- 
tors 5,  baptized  48,  total  membership  616. 

Chariton  welcomes  the  Association.  M.  Nelson,  clerk. 
Churches  12,  pastors  6,  baptized  27,  total  membership  590. 
Rev.  C.  E.  Higgius  joins  the  roll  as  pastor  at  Al- 
lerton. Corydon  has  no  pastor.  Little  other 
change  to  note.  In  1881  the  Association  was  at  Sharon 
Church,  C.  E.  Higgins  clerk.  Churches  13,  pastors  6,  bap- 
tized 31,  members  632.  Rev.  F.  M.  Archer  succeeds  Pastor 
Mace  at  Chariton  and  E.  A.  Spring  appears  at  Corydon. 
But  one  pastor  has  been  with  his  present  charge  since  1879, 
two  years.  This  is  Rev.  Wm.  Barnett,  Highland  Church. 
In  1882  Allerton  entertains  the  Association.  J.  F.  Moody, 
Allerton,  clerk.     A  year  of  great  revivals  in  some  of  our 


194  HISTOKICAL   SKETCHES 

churches,  and  great  religious  activity,  Churches  13,  pas- 
tors 7,  baptisms  231,  total  membership  859 — A  larger  num- 
ber than  any  other  Association  in  the  State.  Brother 
Archer  at  Chariton  has  baptized  100,  considerably  more 
than  doubling  the  membership  of  the  Church  ;  Spring  of 
Corydon  69,  six  other  churches  from  2  to  15.  The  appear- 
ance of  the  Leon  Church  in  this  Association  in  1881  should 
have  been  noticed.  Rev,  F.  Edwards  began  a  good  work 
here  in  1880.  He  has  baptized  15  in  1882.  Rev.  C.  E.  Hig- 
gins  resigned  his  Avork  at  Allerton  to  take  charge  of  the 
Walnut  Street  Church  Burlington,  and  Rev.  J.  F.  Moody 
succeeds  him. 

The  Association  met  at  Corydon,  R.  E.  Dye  clerk. 
Churches  16,  pastors  9,  baptized  17,  total  membership  866. 
Rev.  M.  W.  Akers  is  pastor  at  Allerton.  Rev. 
N.  H.  Dailey  has  succeeded  F.  M.  Archer  at 
Chariton,  he  having  removed  to  Ida  Grove  in  the  Western 
Iowa  Association.  Rev.  T.  K.  Tyson  has  become  pastor  at 
Russell,  where  he  reports  7  of  the  17  baptisms  in  the 
Association.  A  very  neat  house  of  worship  is  about  or 
quite  completed.  They  report  a  grand  total  of  expendi- 
tures for  the  year  of  $3,239.47,  a  good  showing  for  a  Church 
of  46  members.  Rev.  F.  Edwards  has  been  leading  a  like 
work  at  Leon.  They  have  raised  this  year  $2,394. 75.  Russell 
with  their  new  house  is  permitted  to  welcome  the  Associa- 
tion in  1884,  R.  E.  Dye  clerk.  Churches  17,  pastors  9, 
baptized  94,  total  membership  929.  There  is  something 
that  looks  a  little  more  like  permanency  in  the  pastoral 
relation.  Most  of  the  pastors  date  their  present  settlement 
back  to  1883  and  one  to  1880.  Rev.  R.  H.  Shafto  is  settled  at 
Corydon,  but  Allerton  is  without  a  pastor,  and  as  we  write 
this  in  1886  it  is  with  the  knowledge  that  Brother  Tyson  has 
been  away  from  Russell  almost  a  year,  that  Brother  Shafto 
has  gone  from  Corydon,  and  that  Brother  Daily  has  re- 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  195 

moved  to  Nortliwood  in  the  Cedar  Valley  Association, 
and  Brother  Archer  has  been  recalled  from  Minnesota  to 
Chariton.  Rev.  F.  Edwards  is  becoming  quite  a  veteran 
in  Leon  and  Cambria. 

Leon  welcomes  the  Association  into  her  new  house  of 
worship.  R.  E.  Dye  is  still  clerk.  Churches  16,  pastors  7, 
baptized  9,  total  membership  889.  Newly  settled 
pastors  are  Wm.  Carpenter  at  Corydon,  and  T. 
M.  Rickman  at  Russell  with  F.  M.  Archer  recalled  to 
Chariton.  It  is  an  off  year  truely  as  to  baptisms.  But  one 
Church  in  the  Association  numbers  over  100  members. 
While  the  history  of  this  Association  shows  the  great 
frequency  of  changes  as  to  pastoral  service,  yet  there  are 
honored  names  of  ministers  who  have  held  up  the  standard 
of  truth  through  a  long  period  within  the  bounds  of  the 
Association,  some  of  them  through  very  nearly  its  entire 
history  of  over  30  years.  Revs.  D.  Winters,  Wm.  Barnett, 
J.  M.  Nelson,  L.  L.  Greenlee,  and  F.  Edwards  come  now 
to  mind.  Others  might  be  named  who  have  made  an 
honorable  record,  laboring  much  of  the  time  at  their  own 
charges.  An  encouraging  feature  is  the  increased  contri- 
butions to  Missionary  objects.  Without  taking  time  or 
space  to  verify  the  statement,  the  writer  can  state  from  a 
careful  examination  of  the  figures  that  the  times  of  greatest 
spiritual  prosperity  in  this  Association  are  the  times  when 
most  liberal  contributions  have  been  made  to  the  Missionary 
work  of  the  denomination. 

In  1886  the  Eden  Association  furnishes  a  creditable  re- 
port, evincing  considerable  vigor  of  life.  Baptisms  91,  to- 
tal membership  873;  contributions  for  home  expenses, 
$3,360.43  ;  Foreign  Missions,  $85.72,  eleven  churches  con- 
tributing; State  Missions,  $105.33  from  seven  churches; 
total  Denominational  Benevolences  $208.39;  grand  total  for 


196 


HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES. 


all  purposes,  $2,568.82.     Pastors  generally  holding  on.     A 
good  sign. 

Rev.  F.  Edwards  settled  at  Leon  in  1880.  He  reports 
26  baptized  in  1886,  and  there  is  every  evidence  of  a  healthy 
activity.  This,  prior  to  his  settlement,  had  been  for  many 
years  seemingly  an  unfruitful  field.  Rev.  Gr.  W.  Smith  has 
been  at  Highland  church  since  1882,  and  they  report  58 
members.  Chariton  reports  27  baptized.  At  this  writing 
Rev.  F.  M.  Archer  has  again  resigned  and  been  succeeded 
by  Rev,  A.  H.  Post,  recently  of  Harlan,  Iowa.  As  compared 
with  last  year  the  figures  are  ver}^  encouraging.  Baptized 
in  1885,  9 ;  in  1886,  91. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


NORTH-EASTERlSr     lOWA — 1855 — DUBUQUE      AsSOCIATIOIT. 

Distinguishing  Features — Turkey  River 
Association  goes  out,  Circumscrib- 
ing THE  Field — 1855  to  1869. 

RIOR  to  1855  all  the  Baptist  Churches  in  Iowa 
north  of  the  Iowa  River,  and  of  a  line  run- 
ning through  Des  Moines,  with  the  exception 
of  two  or  three  churches  in  Boone  county, 
belonged  to  the  Davenport  Association,  ex- 
cepting also  an  unassociated  church  at  Waterloo  with  20 
members,  and  one  at  Toledo  with  15. 

August  30,  1856,  messengers  from  the  churches  north  of 
the  south  line  of  Jackson  county  and  of  counties  west,  met 
at  LaMotte,  Iowa,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a 
new  Association.  Rev.  T.  S.  Grriffith  of  Dubuque 
preached  a  sermon  from  Psalm  XC:17.  Rev.  John  Bates 
of  Cascade  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  M.  A.  Clark  clerk. 
The  churches  represented  at  this  meeting  were  Bear  Creek 
with  19  members,  Bellevue  33,  Cascade  65,  Delaware  36, 
Delhi  61,  Dubuque  54,  Fairview  44,  Kingston  (West  Cedar 
Rapids)  16,  LaMotte  60,  Linn  Grove  17,  Makee  38,  Maquo- 
keta  103,  Marion  91,  Quasqueton  24,  Rossville  34,  Shells- 


198  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

buro-  22,  West  Union  20,  and  Yankee  settlement  26;  total 
769.  The  venerable  Joshua  Currier  was  at  the  time  pastor 
at  LaMotte.  Other  pastors  were  Luther  Holmes,  Bear 
Creek,  John  Bates,  Cascade,  C.  D.  Farnsworth,  Delhi,  T.  S. 
Griffith,  Dubuque,  O.  S  Harding,  Fairview,  O.  A.  Holmes, 
Maquoketa,  J.  V.  DeWitt,  Marion,  A.  G.  Firman,  Quasque- 
ton,  James  Schofield,  Rossville,  Richard  King,  8hellsburg, 
and  George  Scott,  Yanlvee  Settlement.  A.  G.  Firman  was 
by  request  of  the  Quasqueton  Church  ordained  at  this 
meeting.  Thus  was  launched  upon  the  sea  of  trial  and  of 
gracious  ministry  thirty-one  years  ago  the  Duhvqiie  Bap- 
tid  Association.  Two  things  strike  us  as  of  special  interest 
in  the  commencement  of  this  history :  First,  The  large  ex- 
tent of  territor}'  for  the  cultivation  of  which  the  new  Asso- 
ciation became  responsible,  comprising,  substantially,  all 
that  part  of  the  State  north  of  the  (now)  main  line  of  the 
North  Western  Railroad.  Second,  The  number  of  promi- 
nent brethren  connected  with  it.  How  has  the  subsequent 
history  of  Baptists  in  Iowa,  and  in  the  countr}^  at  large 
been  afi'ected  by  the  labors  and  influence  of  Brethren  Bates, 
Griffith,  Holmes,  Schofield,  Currier,  King,  Dewitt,  Scott,  and 
others  whose  names  are  connected  with  the  early  history  of 
this  Association  ! 

The  second  meeting  of  the  Association  was  held  at  Du- 
buque, October  3,  1856.  In  the  absence  of  the  brother  ap- 
pointed to  preach  the  annual  sermon,  Rev.  G.  J. 
Johnson  of  Burlington  preached,  Hev.  Jolin  Bates 
was  Moderator,  Benjamin  Rupert,  clerk.  Strawberry  Point 
was  added  to  the  list  of  churches,  and  D.  M.  Root  of  Del- 
hi, J.  Woodward  of  Cedar  Rapids  (Kingston  Church),  D. 
Rowley  of  Quasqueton  and  J.  H.  Parmelee  of  West  Union, 
appear  among  the  pastors.  Rev.  Samuel  Hill,  postoffice 
Waukon,  appears  also  as  pastor  of  the  Makee  Church.  He 
came  from   Massachusetts  and  it  seems,  returned  to  that 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  199 

state  in  1857.  N.  B.  Homan  seems  to  have  been  ordained 
about  this  time  and  is  pastor  at  Simmon's  Creek,  which  is 
a  new  Church  with  21  members.  Among  the  delegates 
from  the  Strawberry  Point  Church  are  the  names  of  Alva 
Bush  and  James  Sunderland,  familiar  names  to  Iowa  Bap- 
tists since.  Dubuque  mentions  having  paid  $900  during 
the  year  to  Burlington  University,  and  that  one  of  her 
members  has  been  licensed  to  preach  and  is  studying  at 
that  Institution.  Baptisms  reported  this  year  59,  churches 
21,  members  948.  Correspondence  is  opened  with  the  Ce- 
dar Valley  Association,  organized  this  year  on  the  west. 
There  appears  to  be  an  unassociated  church  at  Hopkinton 
with  20  members.     There  is  some  evidence  of  revival. 

The  Association  met  at  AVest  Union.  Rev.  C.  E.  Brown, 
Moderator,  James  Sunderland,  clerk.  Brother  Baldwin 
preached  the  introductory  sermon.  The  Hop- 
kinton and  Oran  Churches  wer©  received.  Bmt 
in  the  meantime  the  Linn  Association  has  been  formed 
on  the  southwestern  border,  and  the  Marion,  Linn  Grove, 
Simmon's  Creek,  Fair  View,  Quasqueton,  Shellsburg  and 
Kingston  churches  have  united  therewith,  leaving  in  this 
Association  16  churches,  54  have  been  added  by  bap- 
tism, 90  by  letter  and  there  are  622  members.  There  is  an 
unassociated  Church  at  Epworth  with  16  members.  Jamei 
Kay  is  pastor  at  Hopkinton,  L.  M.  Newell  at  Makee 
Church,  J.  H.  Ross  at  Oran  and  Horace  Holmes  at  Bear 
Creek.  Rev.  H.  R.  Wilber  appears  as  a  visitor  from  the 
Des  Moines  Association.  Horace  Holmes  seems  to  have 
been  ordained  this  year. 

The  Fourth  Anniversay  was  held  at  Strawberry  Point. 

Rev.    L.   M.    Newell    preached    the   sermon.    Rev.    O.   A. 

Holmes,  Moderator  and  James  Sunderland,  clerk. 

Rev.  J.  Y.  Aitchison  is  pastor  at  Delhi,  where 

he  reports  24  baptisms.     He  is  also  pastor  at  Manchester, 


200  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

and  the  Manchester,  Erie,  Westfield  and  Hardin  churches 
.are  received  into  the  body.  Yankee  Settlement  and  Fair- 
field churches  are  reported  extinct.  It  has  been  a  year 
of  unusual  revival  and  prosperity.  Churches  18;  pastors 
10;  baptisms  138;  membership  862.  Cascade  reports  20 
baptisms,  Delaware  11,  Delhi  24,  Dubuque  44,  and  Straw- 
berry Point  15. 

Brother  Sunderland  writing  to  the  State  Convention, 
mentions  "some  remarkable  manifestations  of  Divine 
power,  not  only  in  conversions,  but  in  leading  converts  to 
to  scriptural  views  of  his  kingdom  and  ordinances." 
Churches  were  "organized  where  there  had  been  previ- 
ously neither  Baptist  minister  nor  members,"  and  "con- 
verts have  sent  for  a  distant  pastor,  been  baptized  and 
formed  into  a  church,  upon  which  Salvation  has  continued 
to  fall,  evincing  the  power  of  the  Word  and  Spirit  of  God 
to  awaken  the  conscience  and  lead  men  into  all  truth." 

June  10  the  Association   met  at  Maquoketa.     Rev.  J. 

Y.  Aitchison  preached  the  annual  sermon.  Rev.  James  Scho- 

field  Moderator  protem.    This,  if  we  mistake  not, 

1859  ^     ,  '  ' 

is  the  father  of  G-eneral  Schofield  and  of  Rev.  J. 

Y.  Schofield  of  St.  Louis.     Jesse  Clement  of  Dubuque  was 

elected  Moderator,  James  Sunderland    clerk.      Five   new 

Churches  are  received,  viz.  J^lonmouth,  North  Bend,  Iron 

Hill,  Plum  Creek  and  SpriHg  Brook.     Three  of  these  are 

the  fruit  of  revivals  the  present  year,  and  the  other  two  of 

the  previous  year.     A  striking  feature  of  our  history  is 

the  number  of  small  Churches  organized,  never  to  attain 

to  anything  more  than  a  most  precarious  existence,  and  in 

a  few  years  to  disappear  from  the  records :  while  on  the 

other  hand,  the  vitality  and  tenacity  of  life  of  many  of  these 

feeble  interests  is  a  marvel  of  grace.     And  even  where  they 

do  not  abide,  who  can  measure  the  good  that  may  grow 


REV.  JAMES  SUNDERLAND. 


OF  IOWA   BAPTISTS.  201 

out  of  the  work  of  these  fleeting  years  ?  There  are  now  23 
Churches,  120  baptisms  reported,  and  a  total  membership 
of  1021.  The  largest  part  of  the  baptisms  are  among  the 
new  Churches  just  received  into  the  body.  Monmouth  reports 
18,  North  Bend  12,  Spring  Brook  40,  and  Iron  Hill  11. 
There  are  but  9  pastors  within  the  bounds  of  the  Association. 
These  are  John  Bates,  James  Kay,  J.  Y.  Aitchison,  C.  Bill- 
ings Smith,  Alva  Bush,  James  Schofield,  Luther  Holmes,  S. 
Morton,  and  Charles  E.  Brown.  Rev.  T.  S.  Grrifiith  has 
removed  to  Keokuk  and  become  pastor,  and  Rev.  C.  Bill- 
ings Smith  has  succeeded  him  at  Dubuque,  and  Rev.  O. 
A.  Holmes  left  Maquoketa  a  year  or  so  ago  and  is  pastor 
of  an  unassociated  Church  at  Webster  City.  Rev.  George 
Scott  is  this  year  without  charge  at  Strawberry  Point. 

The  Association   met  at    Delhi.      Rev.    George    Scott 
preached  the  sermon,  John  Bates  Moderator,  Jesse  Cle- 
ment clerk.     Two  new  Churches  are  received,  viz. 

T    D  ^  ^ 

Sand  Spring  in  Delaware  county,  and  Water ville 
in  Allamakee,  the  latter  with  5  baptisms  and  11  members 
apparently  never  reported  after  this  meeting.  There  are 
now  25  churches  and  1025  members.  The  trial  time  is 
coming  on,  only  one  church  reports  more  than  5  baptisms. 
Vernon  Springs  with  Rev.  Charles  E.  Brown  as  pastor 
reports  22.  New  pastors  this  year  are  John  Cummings  at 
LaMotte  and  Maquoketa,  H.  G.  Davenport  at  North  Bend, 
and  Alva  Bush  at  Westfield  (afterward  Fayette).  Also 
John  Williams  at  West  Union.  In  the  meantime,  during 
1860  the  Turkey  River  Association  was  organized,  taking 
from  the  north  part  of  this  field  12  churches  with  352 
members.  The  Dubuque  Association  has  reached  its  high- 
est point  as  to  numbers  up  to  the  time  of  writing  this  sketch, 
but  not  necessarily  in  usefulness.  Rev.  Dexter  P.  Smith  is 
the  agent  of  the  State  Convention. 

14 


202  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Friday,  June  7th,  the  Association  met  at  Cascade. 
Rev.  C.  B.  Smith  preached  the  sermon  and  was  elected 
Moderator  and  Samuel  Skemp,  of  Dubuque,  clerk. 
By  the  organization  of  the  new  Association,  on 
the  north,  cutting  down  the  territory  of  this  about  one- 
half,  the  number  of  Churches  is  reduced  to  16;  reporting 
62  baptisms  and  595  members;  though  in  the  Convention 
records,  for  the  year  1801,  the  number  of  members  is  683. 
There  is  frequently  a  discrepancy  between  the  numbers 
reported  in  the  Association  and  in  the  Convention  Minutes. 
This  may  be  accounted  for  by  the  changes  that  have  taken 
place  after  the  Association,  and  is  more  likely  to  occur 
when  the  meeting  of  the  Association  is  early  in  the  season 
as  is  the  case  with  this.  Rev.  T.  W.  Clark,  who  has  lived  at 
DeWitt,  in  the  Davenport  Association  since  1857,  is  preach- 
ing at  Spring  Brook  and  reports  20  baptisms.  The  Water- 
ford  Church,  in  Jackson  county,  and  Worthington,  Du- 
buque county  are  received  this  year.  Elder  Cummings 
requested,  for  Maquoketa,  the  privilege  of  withdrawing  to 
unite  with  the  Davenport  Association.  The  matter  was 
referred  to  a  committee  who  reported,  "that  as  the  Asso- 
ciation had  been  divided,  the  Maquoketa  brethren  be 
requested  to  remain  with  us  and  strengthen  our  hands." 
The  report  was  adopted  and  the  Maquoketa  Church  has 
remained  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  one  of  the  strong  sup- 
ports of  the  Dubuque  Association.  The  Ciril  War  having 
broken  out,  and  become  the  all-absorbing  topic  of  consider- 
ation, Rev.  J.  Y.  Aitchison  read  a  circular  letter  urging 
especiall}^  that  our  patriotism  be  supplemented  by  prayer. 
Rev.  James  Hill  of  Cascade  is  pastor  of  the  Worthington 
Church  and  reports  3  baptisms  and  10  members. 

Met  at  Spring  Brook.  Rev.  John  Bates  preached  the 
sermon,  George  Scott  Moderator,  John  Bates  clerk,  D.  O. 
Montague   treasurer.      Churches    15,   pastors   7,   baptisms 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  203 

66,  total  membership  580.  Rev.  Elam  D.  Phillips  is  pastor 
at  Spring  Brook,  and  they  report  29  of  the  66  bap- 
tisms ;  also  at  Maquoketa  where  12  have  been 
baptized.  Rev.  John  Bates  writing  of  this  meeting,  voiced 
the  Missionary  and  the  Christian  that  he  was  wlien  he 
said,  "Brethren,  we  need  more  of  the  spirit  of  God,  more  of 
a  Missionary  spirit,  individual  zeal,  and  enlarged  benevo- 
lence in  sustaining  Sabbath  Schools,  and  a  better  support 
could  and  ought  to  be  given  by  the  Churches  to  those 
ministers  who  labor  in  word  and  doctrine.  Let  us  take 
heed  that  we  are  not  absorbed  too  much  in  war.  We  are 
Christians  as  well  as  patriots.  The  first  honor  is  to  be 
self-denying  and  ready  to  die  as  martyrs  in  the  cause  of 
Christ;  the  next  honor  is  to  be  self-denying  and  ready  to 
die  as  patriots  in   the  cause  of  our  country." 

Met  at  LaMotte  Friday,  June  12,  sermon  by  Rev.  James 
Kay,  John  Bates  Moderator,  Jesse  Clement  clerk.  Churches 
16,  pastors  8,  baptized  41,  total  membership  648. 
At  this  meeting  the  writer  of  these  sketches  first 
met  with, the  Dubuque  Association  as  agent  of  the  Iowa 
Baptist  State  Convention.  On  his  way  to  LaMotte  he 
stopped  over  night  with  the  family  of  Elder  John  Bates  at 
Cascade.  Brother  Bates  had  gone  on  to  LaMotte  a  day  in 
advance.  On  entering  the  home  we  found  it  wrapped  in  a 
cloud  of  sadness  never  to  be  forgotten.  Intelligence  had 
just  been  received  of  the  first  great  assault  on  the  fortifica- 
tions at  Yicksburg.  A  breach  had  been  made  in  the  walls 
and  the  company  to  which  Brother  Bates'  eldest  son,  Sam- 
uel, belonged  had  fallen  within  the  fortifications  upon  the 
repulse  of  the  Union  forces.  Whether  the  noble  young 
man  had  met  immediate  death  or  awaited  the  tortures  of  a 
rebel  prison  was  wholly  uncertain.  We  have  never  wit- 
nessed a  deeper  sorrow  nor  borne  with  more  noble  Christian 


204  HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES 

courage.  In  the  grief-stricken  home  were  two  beautiful 
young  ladies  who  afterward  became  the  wives  of  two  of  our 
Foreign  Missionaries,  Mr.  Tympany  and  Mr.  McLaurin  of 
Canada.  At  this  meeting  the  2d  Dubuque  Church  appears 
upon  the  records  with  44  members,  and  Rev.  A.  Chapin 
soon  after  becomes  pastor.  The  name  of  the  1st  Dubuque 
Church  continues  upon  the  records  for  two  or  three  years 
without  any  report  and  then  disappears.  H.  G.  Davenport 
is  preaching  at  North  Bend,  J.  Z.  Zimmerman  at  Spring 
Brook,  and  E.  D.  Phillips  at  Maquoketa. 

Manchester  is  the  place  of  meeting.  Brother  Phillips 
preached^the  sermon.  Rev.  A.  Chapin  Moderator,  and  J.  Z. 
Zimmerman  clerk.  Rev.  H.  Samson  has  succeeded 
E.  D  Phillips  at  Maquoketa,  and  H.  H.  Half  is 
preaching  at  Delhi,  and  Rev.  T.  W.  Clark  at  North  Bend. 
Rev.  J.  Y.  Aitchison  has  closed  a  very  successful  pastorate 
of  six  years  or  more  at  Delhi  and  Manchester,  where  he 
has  baptized  over  50  into  the  two  Churches,  which  number 
now  (1864)  43  and  38  respectively.  It  has  been  a  year  of 
very  limited  spiritual  fruitage,  and  great  destitution.  Only 
11  baptisms  are  reported,  14  Churches,  and  550  members. 

This  year  the  Annual  meeting  was  at  Cascade,  Elam  D 
Phillips  Moderator,  Jesse  Clement  clerk,  T.  H.  Bowen 
treasurer.  Rev.  H.  Samson  preached  the  annual 
sermon  from  Job  19:25.  There  are  now  13  Churches, 
9  pastors,  28  baptisms  reported,  and  588  members.  The 
Cascade  and  Manchester  Churches  show  the  only  signs  of 
revival.  Cascade  reports  12  baptisms,  Manchester  13.  The 
decease  is  reported  of  Rev.  Luther  Holmes  at  Monmouth. 
Born  in  Vermont,  he  had  removed  first  to  New  Yorl>s:,  where 
he  was  converted  under  the  ministry  of  "Father  John 
Peck,"  and  united  with  the  Baptist  Church  at  New  Wood- 
stock, Madison  county.     He  afterwards  removed  to  Ohio, 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  205 

and  in  or  about  1853  to  Jackson  county,  Iowa.  He  had 
been  in  the  ministry  about  16  years.  (See  Obituary  Notes). 
Rev.  John  Bates,  after  14  years  labor  at  Cascade,  has  re- 
moved with  his  excellent  family  to  Canada.  At  this 
meeting  it  was  voted  that  one  Church,  each  year,  beginning 
with  the  oldest  in  the  Association,  present  a  brief  history^ 
to  be,  if  practicable,  printed  in  the  minutes.  Brother  Car- 
los Wilcot,  a  Licentiate  from  Fulton,  Illinois,  is  preaching 
at  Spring  Brook.  Rev.  E.  D.  Phillips  has  removed  to  and 
is  pastor  at  Manchester,  and  Rev.  James  Kay  has  succeeded 
Brother  Bates  at  Cascade. 

Maquoketa  entertains  the  Association.  Rev.  A.  Chapin 
preached  the  [sermon.  Moderator  James  Kay,  clerk  Jesse 
Clement.  The  Delaware  Center,  Masonville,  and 
Epworth  Churches  are  received.  The  history  of 
the  Cascade  Church  appears  in  the  minutes.  About  1845, 
at  the  request  of  John  Raferty  and  a  few  others.  Rev. 
Ira  Blanchard  of  Delaware  county  began  to  preach  once  a 
month.  A  Campbellite  minister  coming  about  the  same 
time,  a  Church  was  formed  called  the  Baptist  Christian 
Church,  evidently  intended  to  absorb  the  two  elements, 
Baptist  and  Disciples,  or  Campbellites  as  they  were  known. 
As  might  have  been  expected,  this  organization  did  not 
survive,  and  on  the  16th  of  May,  1846,  the  Baptist  Church 
of  Cascade  was  organized  with  9  members.  Brother  Blanch- 
ard continued  to  serve  the  Church  as  pastor  until  1850, 
when  he  removed  to  California,  where  he  died  in  1852.  He 
was  assisted  at  various  times  at  Cascade  by  Elders  Morey 
of  Iowa  City^T.  H.  Arcliibald  of  Dubuque,  and  Charles  E. 
Brown  of  Maquoketa.  In  July  1850  Rev.  John  Bates,  just 
from  Ireland,  became  pastor  and  continued  in  faithful  labor 
for  14  years.  In  the  year  now  under  review,  1866,  there 
have  been  in  the  Association  69  baptisms,  of  which  number 
Cascade  reports  28,  Delaware  Center  12,  Masonville  16,  and 


206  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Manchester  8.  The  whole  number  of  members  is  643. 
Among  the  pastors  appear  Rev.  James  Hill  at  Epworth 
and  Worthington,  J.  Carrington  at  Delaware  Center,  and 
Isaac  C.  Jones  at  South  Fork  (Sand  Spring). 

Dubuque  is  the  place  of  meeting.  Rev.  James  Kay 
preached  the  sermon,  Rev.  E.  D.  Phillips,  Moderator, 
Jesse  Clement  is  still  clerk.  Brother  Phillips 
is  about  to  go  into  Home  Mission  work  in  Ne- 
braska, where  in  1870  and  1871  he  appears  under  commis- 
sion of  the  Home  Misson  Society  at  Tecumseh.  He  soon 
after  removed  to  Eastern  New  York,  where  he  is  still  serv- 
ing in  the  '"Kingdom  and  Patience"  of  our  Divine  Lord. 
Revs.  J.  Carrington  and  Isaac  C.  Jones  also  soon  removed 
to  Nebraska.  Brother  Jones  served  the  Home  Mission 
Society  at  various  places  from  1866  to  1871,  and  Brother 
Carrington  was  under  commission  of  the  Society  at  Peru 
in  1871.  It  is  interesting  to  follow  our  Iowa  bi-ethren  thus 
and  trace  their  activities  into  other  states.  In  the  year 
now  sketched.  Rev.  N.  Whitmore  has  been  preaching  at 
LaMotte,  J.  C.  Johnson  at  Epworth  and  Wm.  E.  Reed  at 
North  Bend.  Maquoketa  is  without  a  pastor.  Rev.  H. 
Samson  having  resigned  more  than  a  year  ago.  This  meet- 
ing is  noted  for  the  number  of  representatives  of  our 
Denominational  Societies  present.  Revs.  G.  J.  Johnson, 
S.  M.  Osgood  and  Thomas  Powell  are  of  the  number.  A 
period  of  great  activity  and  large  planning  has  followed 
upon  the  close  of  the  war,  and  claims  of  the  different  So- 
cieties are  being  warmly  and  successfully  pressed. 

The   Associational   gathering    is   at   Delaware   Centre. 

Rev.  A.  Chapin,  Moderator,  Caleb  Saddler,  clerk.     Rev.  J. 

F.  Childs,   being  present  in  the  interest  of  the 

State  Convention,  preached  the  opening  sermon, 

both    appointees   being  absent.      The  Association  mourn 


OF    IOWA   BAPTISTS.  207 

the  decease — on  the  previous  4th  of  July— of  Rev.  James 
Kay,  pastor  of  the  Church  at  Cascade.  Brother  Kay  was 
born  in  Lancashire,  England;  was  for  a  time  on  the  city 
-mission  staff  of  the  City  of  Manchester.  Coming  to  this 
country  about  1858,  he  became  pastor  of  the  Little  Church 
of  Delaware,  in  Delaware  county,  Iowa,  preaching  also  at 
Hopkinton,  and  at  Sand  Spring.  In  1864  he  succeeded 
Elder  John  Bates  as  pastor  at  Cascade,  where  he  labored 
with  great  acceptance  until  laid  aside  by  his  last  sickness. 
He  is  much  lamented  and  greatly  honored.  "His  life  was 
holy,  his  ministry  a  great  success,  his  death  triumphaiit, 
•his  memory  blessed."  There  were  this  year  15  Churches 
in  the  Association,  25  baptisms  reported  and  673  members. 
The  history  of  the  Maquoketa  Church  was  given.  Organ- 
ized in  1848,  the  first  pastor  was  Charles  E.  Brown.  He 
was  succeeded  in  1851  by  Rev.  George  Scott,  and  he  by 
Rev.  O.  A.  Holmes  in  1853  or  1854.  Brother  Holmes  con- 
tinued 5  or  6  years,  and  1859  removed  to  Webster  City  to 
begin  many  years  of  most  useful  service  in  the  newer  fields 
of  the  upper  Des  Moines  and  Iowa  Valley  Associations. 

In  May,  1859,  the  house  of  worship  of  the  Maquoketa 
Church  was  entirely  destroyed  by  fire.  The  lot  had  to  be 
sold  to  pay  a  debt,  and  dark  days  set  in.  The  day  of 
adversity  was  set  over  against  the  day  of  prosperity. 
But  the  Church,  though  cast  down,  was  not  destroyed. 
The  last  year  of  Brother  Holmes'  pastorate  the  Church  had 
reported  115  members.  In  1861  they  were  reduced  to  74. 
Subsequently  they  prospered  again  and  were  able,  in 
1867  or  1868,  to  purchase  of  the  Presbyterians  a  comfort- 
able brick  building,  in  which  again  to  "keep  house  for  the 
Lord." 

The  Association  met  again  at  Cascade.     Rev.  William 
Aitchison,   Jr.,  preached    the    annual    sermon,    and    was 


208  HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES. 

♦ 

elected  Moderator,  and  Carlos  Wilcox,  of  LaMotte,  clerk. 
Fifteen  Churches,  9  pastors,  44  baptisms  reported  and 
623  members.  Maquoketa  with  Henry  L.  Field 
ordained  as  pastor  and  17  baptisms  to  re- 
port, and  North  Bend  with  20  baptisms  indicate  the  only 
revivals.  Worthington  has  completed  a  house  of  worship. 
Delhi  is  building,  and  Monmouth  is  gathering  material. 
Manchester  has  given  up  the  hall  which  the}^  have  occu- 
pied for  four  years,  but  which  is  used  through  the  week 
for  a  dancing  hall-  They  are  discouraged,  but  have  se- 
cured another  room  and  are  struggling  on. 

Brother  Carlos  Wilcox  has  been  ordained  at  Spring 
Brook,  and  is  preaching  also  at  LaMotte,  and  Rev.  J.  A.  Ab- 
bott has  been  ordained  at  South  Fork  Church  (Sand  Spring). 
Rev.  John  Brown  has  become  pastor  at  Cascade,  beginning 
some  time  in  1868.  The  history  of  the  Delaware  Church  was 
given  this  year.  Organized  June  30,  1844,  by  Rev.  Ira 
Blanchard.  Its  subsequent  pastors  were  John  Bates  (supply- 
ing from  Cascade),  Luther  Holmes,  Hiram  Barden,  C.  D. 
Farnsworth,  and  James  Kay.  This  was  always  a  small 
country  Church,  never  becoming  strong;  it  nevertheless 
occupied  a  prominent  place  in  the  pioneer  religious  work  in 
this  region.  It  was  located  on  the  line  between  Delaware 
and  Jones  counties  and  is  not  to  be  confounded  with  the 
Church  at  Delaware  Centre,  now  bearing  the  simple  name 
"Delaware." 


■^--^^' 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


Dubuque  Association   Continued — Faithful   Holding 

On — A  Church  Building  Society — Every  Church 

Provided   with  a  Home — Dubuque  Church 

Served — A   Holocaust — 1870    to    1886. 


jHE  Anniversary  was  at  Delhi  June  10.  Ser- 
mon by'Rev.  James  Hill  of  Cascade,  Moder- 
ator, and  Wm.  Aitcliison  Jr.  clerk.  Bap- 
tisms 84,  other  additions  56,  whole  number  of 
members  794.  A  year  of  some  spiritual  quick- 
ening, in  which  Cascade,  Dubuque,  and  Ma- 
quoketa  have  shared  most  fully,  reporting  14, 26,  and  13  bap- 
tisms respectively.  Epworth  have  let  contract  for  building 
and  Delhi  report  progress  but  cannot  complete  their  building 
without  help.  A  movement  was  inaugurated  to  combine  the 
aid  of  the  Churches  in  the  Association  to  help  one,  where 
most  needed,  each  year  in  building,  and  by  this  unity  of  ef- 
fort, in  a  few  years,  almost  if  not  every  Church  in  the  Du- 
buque Association  was  provided  with  a  house  of  worship. 
Rev.  A.  Whitman  has  succeeded  Brother  Chapin  as  pastor 
at  Dubuque.  Rev.  Wm.  Tilley  has  followed  H.  L.  Field  at 
Maquoketa,  and  Rev.  Asa  Prescott  has  settled  at  Delaware 
Centre  and  Delhi,  succeeding  J.  Z.  Zimmerman  after  a  short 


210  .    HISTOEIC AL   SKETCIffiS  ' 

pastorate  at  Delaware  Centre,  and  J.  C.  Johnson  after  an 
interval  at  Delhi  and  Delaware  Centre.  The  history  of  the 
LaMotte  Church  is  given  this  year.  It  was  organized  first  at 
Andrew,  January  4,  1845,  "By  the  assistance  of  Rev. 
Horace  Eaton  of  New  Hampshire."  He  was  called  to  the 
pastorate,  but  declined  the  call  and  seems  to  have  remained 
in  the  state  only  about  a  year.  Horace  Eaton  seems  to 
have  been  under  appointment  of  the  Home  Mission  Society 
in  Davis  county  20  weeks  in  1844  and  26  weeks  in  1845. 
The  Church  was  removed  from  Andrew  to  LaMotte,  and  in 
1848  Rev.  Joshua  Currier  became  pastor.  During  his  pas- 
storate  of  nine  and  one-half  years  the  membership  increased 
to  62,  and  a  comfortable  house  of  worship  was  built.  Since 
that  time  the  Church  has  declined  in  membership  and  in- 
fluence, and  when  the  history  was  written  in  1870  there 
were  only  17  members. 

Met  at  Epworth,  sermon  by  Elder  John  Brown,  James 
Hill  Moderator,  Wm.  Aitchison  clerk.  Brother  C.  W. 
Skemp  of  I)ubuque  has  been  very  acceptably 
supplying  the  Church  at  Epwortli  and  Farley 
for  two  or  three  years  past.  They  have  completed  a  house 
of  worship  at  Epworth,  at  a  cost  of  $2,125,  and  are  rejoic- 
ing. There  are  now  15  Churches,  8  pastors,  and  15  meeting 
houses,  including  those  under  way ;  members  753.  Only 
14  baptisms  are  reported  for  the  year,  and  a  net  loss  of  41 
members.  A  series  of  "  Regulations  "  were  adopted. at  this 
meetingiiqr  a  "Church  Building  Fund."  The  name  and 
wise  councils  of  Rev.  A.  Chapin  are  missed  from  the  delib- 
erations of  the  body.  The  stay  of  his  successor  at  Dubuque 
has  been  short,  and  they  are  without  a  pastor.  Maquoketa 
have  expended  $1,50D  in  repairs  on  Church  edifice,  and 
have  now  the  best  in  town. 

Maquoketa  enJo3's  the  anniversary.     Rev.  Asa  Prescott 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  211 

preached  the  sermon  and  was  elected  Moderator.  Rev.  Wm. 
Aitcluson  still  clerk.  Baptisms  63,  of  which  num- 
ber 46  are  at  Diibnque,  where  Rev.  L.  F.  Raymond 
has  become  pastor  and  has  been  assisted  by  his  father,  the 
veteran  Lewis  Raymond,  of  Chicago,  in  a  remarkable  revival. 
Whole  immber  of  members  in  the  Association,  775.  Cas- 
cade have  had  some  trouble,  but  the  Church  is  never- 
theless prospering.  Manchester  have  no  pastor,  but  are 
building  a  meeting  house,  and  Monmouth  have  recently 
dedicated.  In  1873  the  Association  met  at  Manchester. 
L.  F.  Raymond,  preacher;  Asa  Prescott,  Moderator ;  L.  M. 
Newell,  clerk.  For  a  number  of  years  there  have  been  no 
new  organizations,  nor  any  change  of  boundary  of  the  As- 
sociation. This  year  the  Monmouth  Church  is  dismissed 
to  the  Davenport  Association,  and  the  Forestville  Church 
is  received  from  the  Turkey  River.  Rev.  T.  F.  Thickstun 
is  present  as  State  Superintendent  of  Missions,  and  J.  E. 
Rockwood  as  State  Sunday  School  Missionary.  Of  the  14 
Churches  comprising-  the  body,  six  are  witliout  pastors. 
Baptisms  55,  members  775.  Rev.  L.  M.  Newell  has  become 
pastor  at  Manchester.  Maquoketa  reports  14  baptisms,  but 
Brother  Tilley  has  resigned.  Rev.  James  Hill  is  pastor  at 
Cascade,  and  they  report  18  baptisms. 

The  Twentieth  Anniversary  was  held  at  Dubuque.  Rev. 
Wm.  Aitchison,  Jr.,  preached  the  introductory  sermon,  and 
1  R  VA  ^^^  Moderator ;  T.  H.  Bowen,  clerk.  The  churches 
all  send  letters  except  Spring  Brook.  Fourteen 
churches,  57  baptisms,  41  other  additions  ;  loss  83.  Present 
membership  776.  Of  the  baptisms,  Delaware  Centre  re- 
ports 19,  Manchester  11,  Maquoketa  10  and  Cascade  7. 
These  annual  figures  are  interesting  in  as  much  as  they  in- 
dicate, at  least  in  part,  the  process  of  spiritual  growth. 
Sympathetic  mention  is  made  of  the  loss  by  death  of  the 
beloved  wife  of  Rev.  James  Hill,  of  Cascade,  who  was  called 


212  HISTOKICAL   SKETCHES 

up  higher,  March  12th,  1874.  North  Bend  Church  asked 
dismission  to  unite  with  the  Davenport  Association.  The 
request  was  deferred  for  one  year,  and  the  Church  seem 
not  to  have  renewed  it,  nor  to  have  made  any  further  re- 
port to  this  body.  The  name  stands  upon  the  record  for  a 
few  years  and  then  disappears.  Rev.  J.  M.  Ferris  is  pas- 
tor at  Dubuque,  N.  F.  Hoyt  at  Maquol^eta  and  W.  H. 
Irwin  at  Manchester.  The  LaMotte  Church  are  reduced  to 
10  members,  and  asl^  advice  of  the  Association.  They  are 
advised  to  sell  their  meeting  house  in  order  to  pay  a  debt 
of  three  hundred  dollars,  and  to  retain  the  balance,  if  any- 
thing remains,  in  the  Association.  Rev,  M.  T.  Lamb  was 
present  as  Sunday  School  Missionary,  having  succeeded 
Brother  Rockwood  in  that  office. 

Met  May  28th  at  Delaware  Centre.     Rev.  N.  F.  Hoyt, 
of  Maquoketa,  preached  the  annual  sermon.     Rev.  James 
P  Hill   was   again   elected   Moderator,   and   J.  W. 

Beatty  is  clerk.  It  appears  that  a  committee  had 
been  appointed  to  consider  and  report  upon  the  propriety 
of  disbanding  the  Association  and  uniting  with  the  Linn. 
This  committee  reported,  and  after  some  discussion,  it  was 
resolved  that  "as  an  Association  we  discard  all  idea  of 
disbanding  the  body  and  uniting  with  any  other."  At  this 
meeting  a  constitution  was  adopted  organizing  an  "Iowa 
Baptist  Church  Building  Society."  Resolutions  were 
passed  in  tender  memorial  of  Rev.  John  Bates,  long  a 
member  of  this  body,  who  had  recently  deceased  in  Canada. 
(See  obituary  notes.)  Maquoketa  mourns  the  death  of  the 
loved  wife  of  their  pastor,  Rev.  N.  F.  Hoyt.  Rev.  W.  H. 
Irwin  has  resigned  at  Manchester.  It  is  evidently  a  time 
of  great  spiritual  dearth.  Onl}^  six  baptisms  are  reported 
in  the  entire  Association.     Whole  number  of  members  781. 

Cascade  is  the  entertaining  Church.     Rev.  J.  Hill  was 


OF  IOWA    BAPTISTS.  213 

Moderator  protera, but  at  liis  earnest  request  to 'be  released 
from  the  duties  he  had  discharged  so  long  and 
well,  Kev.  N.  F.  Hoyt  was  elected  permanent 
Moderator  for  the  year.  Rev.  J.  W.  Beatty,  of  Cascade,  clerk. 
Allen  Curr,  of  Dubuque,  preached  the  annual  sermon. 
Rev.  James  Hill  has  now  been  preaching  at  Cascade  since 
1873.  The  letters  from  the  Churches  are  hopeful  but 
report  no  great  revival.  Only  8  Churches  report  this  year. 
Baptisms  17;  whole  number  of  members  738.  Spring 
Brook  has  become  extinct,  and  the  name  is  dropped.  Rev. 
J.  M.  Ferris,  pastor  at  Dubuque  for  the  last  two  years,  has 
withdrawn  from  the  denomination  and  united  with  the 
Methodists.  He  is  succeeded  by  Allen  Curr,  and  they  are 
much  encouraged  and  are  engaged  in  building  a  house  of 
worship.  Rev.  L.  M.  Whiting  has  become  pastor  at  Man- 
chester and  Epworth.  Rev.  C.  W.  Skemp,  of  Dubuque, 
who  has  been  supplying  the  Church  at  Epworth  eight 
years,  surrendering,  with  much  honors,  the  trust,  for  a 
time  at  least,  to  others. 

Met  at  Maquoketa.  The  veteran  Moderator,  Brother 
Hill  again  at  his  post,  and  J.  W.  Beatty  again  clerk. 
Brother  Hill  also  preached  the  sermon.  The 
returned  missionary.  Rev.  T.  J.  Keith  has  be- 
come pastor  at  Maquoketa  and  welcomes  the  Association 
handsomely.  Brother  Hoyt  after  four  years  of  honorable 
service  here  has  removed  to  Minnesota.  The  hopeful 
spirit  of  last  year  is  on  the  increase  and  some  fruit  has 
appeared.  Forty  have  been  baptized,  15  of  them  at  Maquo- 
keta. LaMotte,  Delaware  and  South  Fork  Churches  have 
not  reported  for  three  years,  and  committees  are  appointed 
to  inquire  into  their  state.  Rev.  H.  D.  Weaver  is  pastor 
at  Delhi  and  Delaware  Centre. 

The  time  of  meeting  has  been  changed  to  September, 


214  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

assembling  at  Delhi  on  the  18th.  The  annual  sermon  was 
preached  by  Allen  Curr.  H.  D.  Weaver  was 
Moderator  and  J.  G.  Johnson,  clerk.  There  9 
Churches,  42  baptisms  reported,  of  which  28  are  at  Man- 
chester where  L.  M.  Whiting  is  still  pastor.  Total  mem- 
bership 682.  The  Convention  Minutes  this  year  report  ten 
Churches  and  700  members.  Rev.  James  Hill  has  closed  a 
five  years'  pastorate  at  Cascade,  and  Rev  J.  Bodenham  is 
his  successor.  Dubuque  has  made  progress.  The  value 
of  Church  property  is  now  estimated  at  s21,000.  The 
pastor  having  been  absent  about  three-fourths  of  the  year, 
the  pulpit  has  been  acceptably  supplied  by  Brethren 
Millard  and  Skemp.  Pastor  Keith  has  resigned  at 
Maquoketa  to  accept  a  call  at  Waverly.  The  Church  at 
Maquoketa  has  paid  a  debt  of  )^500. 

Met  at  Epworth   September  12.     Sermon   by  Rev.  L  M. 

Whiting,  Rev.  T.  S.  Crandall  Moderator,  Prof  C.  S.  Chap- 
man  clerk.     Churches   8,  baptisms   29.  members 

1879 

680.     Of  the  baptisms  16  were  at  Dubuque,  where 

Alleu  Curr  has  been  succeeded  in  the  pastorate  by  Rev.  C. 

H.  Kimball.  Rev.  T.  S.  Crandall  has  settled  at  Maquoketa. 

Dubuque  is  greatly  embarrassed  by  debt  and  her  property 

endangered.     A  memorial  to  the  State  Convention,  to  meet 

at  Dubuque  in  October,  pleads  earnestly  for  some  method 

of  deliverance  to  be  devised  for  this  Church.     It  may  not 

be  too  much  to  say  that,  to  all  human  appearance,   the 

interposition  of  the  State  Convention  and  Home  Mission 

Society  in  the  fall  of  1879  saved  the  Dubuque  Church  from 

ruin.     As  we  now  write,  1886,  the  Church  is  out  of  debt, 

self-sustaining  and  prosperous.     Probably  no  Church  in 

Iowa   of  its   relative   strength  has  made  a  better  record, 

raised  more  money,  nor  by  greater  devotion  and  personal 

sacrifice,  and  at  the  same  time  been  more  blessed  in  its 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  215 

spiritual  work  than  the  Dubuque  Church  during]  the  last 
six  years. 

In  1880  the  Association  met  at  Manchester.  Rev.  H.  D. 
Weaver  was  the  preacher,  Eev.  James  Hill  Moderator,  C. 
S.  Chapman  clerk.  Very  little  spiritual  growth 
is  reported,  but  there  is  a  hopeful,  courageous 
spirit.  Some  progress  has  been  made  in  removing  debts 
and  financial  burdens.  Rev.  J.  B.  Thomas  has  begun  the 
work  in  Dubuque,  and  starts  the  imperrilled  interest  there 
upon  the  noble  effort  the  success  of  which  is  anticipated 
in  a  previous  paragraph.  Tlie  financial  record  of  the 
Association  is  a  decided  improvement  upon  the  past.  There 
were  reported  for  current  expenses  $3,053,  against  $1,941.52 
last  year.  Grand  total  for  all  purposes  §5,851.94,  against 
$2,967.30  last  year.  In  1881  Dubuque  entertains  the  Annual 
gathering.  Rev,  T.  L.  Crandall  of  Maquoketa  delivered 
the  annual  sermon.  Rev.  A.  D.  Abbott  Moderator,  C.  S. 
Chapman  clerk.  Churches  8,  baptisms  42,  members  619. 
Five  of  the  8,  Churches  share  in  the  baptisms.  Dubuque 
with  14  and  Manchester  with  18  are  the  most"  fortunate. 
The  financial  record  is  still  improving.  Pastors  Weaver 
and  Bodenham  have  resigned  and  leave  the  Association, 
the  former  to  take  charge  of  the  Church  at  Ames,  Iowa. 
Rev.  A.  D.  Abbott  is  pastor  at  Delhi  and  Delaware  Centre. 
D.  Howard  Hall  of  Dubuque  is  preaching  both  this  year 
and  last  at  Ep worth. 

Met  at  Delaware  Centre.     Rev.  F.  Bower,  of  Jessup,  was 
the  annual  preacher.      Rev.  Wm.  Aitchison  was   elected 
Q  Moderator,  and  Mrs.  S.  E.  Harger,  of  Delhi,  clerk. 

The  Independence  and  Jessup  Churches,  from 
the  Cedar  Valley  Association,  and  the  Winterset  Church, 
from  the  Linn,  were  received  into  this  body,  with  an  ag- 
gregate membership. of  207:     This  adds  an  appreciable  ele- 


216  HISTOKICAL   SKETCHES 

ment  of  strength  that  must  greatly  encourage  the  members 
of  the  Association.  There  are  now  11  churches  with,  829 
members,  of  whom  38  have  been  baptized  within  the  year. 
The  pastors  of  the  three  added  churches  are,  Rev.  C.  F. 
Hahn,  Independence,  Rev.  F.  Bower,  Jessup  and  Rev.  John 
Couch,  Winthrop.  Rev,  L.  M.  Whiting  has  closed  at 
Manchester,  seven  years  of  devoted  and  self-sacrificing  toil 
in  this  Association,  that  will  not  be  easily  replaced.  Rev. 
W.  E.  Walker  is  his  successor.  Brother  Wm.  Aitchison 
has  again  been  called  to  the  pastorate  at  Cascade.  Pasror 
Thomas,  at  Dubuque,  reports  encouragement.  They  are 
grappling  manfully  with  almost  insurmountable  difficulties. 

Independence  entertains  her  newly  adopted  sister 
churches  in  Association  this  year.  Rev.  Wm.  Aitchison 
preached  the  annual  sermon,  and  was  again  called 
to  preside.  Rev.  C.  E.  Higgins,  the  new  pastor 
at  Independence,  is  clerk.  The  Dubuque  Baptist  Associa- 
tion, after  a  long  and  heroic  struggle  to  hold  the  fort,  and 
to  lay  permanent  foundations,  seems  now  to  see  the  day  of 
prosperity  set  over  against  the  day  of  adversity.  Over  100 
additions  are  reported,  64  of  them  by  baptism.  The  finan- 
cial record  is  far  in  advance  ;  $12,078.26  are  reported  for  all 
purposes.  Cascade  are  building  a  new  meeting  house,  and 
have  expended  over  $4,000.00.  They  are  also  building  the 
spiritual  house  ;  18  have  been  added  by  baptism.  Dubuque 
reports  39  by  baptism.  Epworth  and  Maquoketa  are  with- 
out pastors.  Brother  Hall  having  ceased  his  labors  at 
Epworth  the  1st  of  July,  and  Brother  Crandall  having 
closed  a  four  years'  useful  pastorate  at  Maquoketa.  Bro- 
ther Hahn  has  given  place  to  C.  E.  Higgins,  at  Indepen- 
dence, and  J.  W.  Allen  has  succeeded  Brother  Couch  at 
Winthrup. 

Met  at  Cascade.     Sermon  by  J.  W.  Allen,  J.  B.  Thomas, 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  217 

Moderator  and  C.  E.  Higgins,  clerk.     Churches  11;  pastors 

8;  baptisms  79;    membership  890.      The  largest 

1884  I  7  J-  o 

membership  since  the  organization  of  the  Turkey 
River  Association,  25  years  ago.  The  Churches  all,  or 
nearly  all,  seem  to  be  in  a  healthy  condition,  and  give 
promise  of  continued  usefulness  and  prosperity.  In  1885 
the  Association  met  tor  its  Thirty-first  Anniversary  at 
Maquoketa.  The  annual  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  C. 
E.  Higgins;  Moderator  and  clerk  the  same  as  last  year. 
Eleven  Churches,  24  baptisms  and  889  members.  Rev, 
George  Houghton  has  become  pastor  at  Delaware  Centre 
and  Epworth.  Rev.  J.  W.  Hough,  at  Maquoketa,  and  Rev. 
J.  Y.  Aitchison,  D.  D.,  at  Manchester. 

In  1886 — baptisms  74;  members  910.  Foreign  missions 
$288.39 ;  state  missions  $240.13 ;  total  local  expenses 
$8,090.16;  denominational  benevolence  $810.38;  grand  total 
for  all  purposes  $8,900.64.  On  July  4th  the  Dubuque 
Church  celebrated  their  own  independence  from  debt  with 
the  National  Independence,  by  publicly  burning  the  notes, 
mortgages,  etc.  which  had  constituted  the  evidences  of 
indebtedness  against  them.  Rev.  R.  J.  Langridge  has 
become  pastor  at  Maquoketa.  Rev.  James  Hill,  of  Cas- 
cade, who  has  been  preaching  at  the  Little  Church  at 
Worthington  nearly  or  quite  ever  since  its  organization  in 
1861,  has  baptized  five  there  this  year,  and  they  report  ten 
members.  This  is  [a  remarkable  instance  of  fidelity  and 
vitality. 

Rev,  J.  W.  Beatty  is  pastor  at  Cascade,  O.  W.  Catlin 
at  Jessup,  Wm.  Swinden  at  Manchester,  succeeding  Rev. 
J.  Y.  Aitchison,  D.  D.,  who  resigned  on  account  of  poor 
health.  Rev.  C.  E.  Higgins  resigned  at  Independence  to 
accept  the  appointment  of  General  Missionary,  At  this 
writing,  Rev,  D,  N,  Mason  is  supplying  the  pulpit  with 

15 


218  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

great  acceptance  and  hope  of  his  returning  to  tlie  work  to 
which  he  is  so  well  adapted  in  the  pulpit.  He  has  been 
for  a  few  years  engaged  in  teaching,  for  which  work  he 
has  also  special  adaptation . 

There  is  perhaps,  no  part  of  Iowa  that  has  required 
greater  fortitude  and  courageous  faith  to  maintain  the 
cause  of  the  Master  during  the  whole  30  years  of  its  his- 
tory, than  that  occupied  by  the  Dubuque  Association,  and 
in  none  have  these  qualities  been  more  fully  evinced.  The 
largest  number  of  churches  reported  any  one  year  has 
been  25,  and  the  smallest  number  8.  There  were  25 
churches  in  I860,  before  the  organization  of  the  Turkey 
River  Association,  and  in  1878  and  1879  only  8,  which 
number  has  been  increaced  to  11,  The  number  of  mem- 
bers since  1860  has  ranged  from  550,  in  1864,  to  910,  in 
1886.  Only  twice  has  the  membership  reached  1,000, 
and  that  in  1859  and  1860,  and  only  two  years  the  number 
of  baptisms  has  reached  100,  and  that  was  in  1858  and  1859. 


CHAPTER  XXY. 


The    Great    Ceis^tral    A'^ alley    of    Northern    Iowa. 

1855  —  The      Cedar      Valley      Association^. 

Organized    in   1856—1856  to    1886. 


|N  1855  a  Clmrcli  was  organized  at  Waterloo, 
Iowa,  and  is  reported  among  the  nnasso- 
ciated  Churches  that  year,  with  twenty  mem- 
bers, also  one  at  Toledo,  Tama  connt}^,  with 
fifteen  members.     These  seem  to  have  formed 

the  basis  for  the  organization  in  1856  of  the  Cedar  Valley 

Association. 


1856, 


This  Association  was  constituted  with  six  Churches,  as 
follows:  1st  Waterloo,  organized  in  1855,  J.  C.  Miller, 
pastor,  baptized  74,  members  112;  St.  Charles,  or- 
ganized 1856,  G.  F.  Brayton,  pastor.  24  members; 
Toledo,  organized  1855,  G.  G.  Edwards,  pastor  baptized  18, 
members  58 ;  Waverly,  organized  1856,  D.  Terry,  pastor, 
members  17;  2d  Waterloo,  J.  C.  Miller,  pastor,  members  17, 
and  Vinton,  Rev.  A.  Chapin,  pastor,  one  baptism  and  22 
members.  Six  Churches,  5  pastors,  93  baptisms  and  250 
members.  There  is  here  the  anomaly  of  two  Churches  in 
the  same  place  with  a  membership  of  only  129,  neither  of 
them  two  years  old,  and  the  same  person  named  as  pastor  of 


220  HISTOEICAL    SKETCHES 

both.  Second  Waterloo  Church  is  not  heard  of  again  after 
another  year.  Rev.  G.  F.  Bray  ton,  Freeman,  Floyd  county,  is 
corresponding  secretary  of  the  Association.  The  First  Anni- 
versary was  held  in  1857,  at  Waterloo,  A.  D.  Bush,  secre- 
tary. Three  new  Churches  are  added,  all  organized  the 
present  year,  viz:  Horton,  D.  Terr}^,  pastor,  11  members; 
New  Hartford,  J.  R.  Dean,  pastor,  22  members  and  two 
baptisms;  Riceville,  G.  F.  Brayton,  pastor,  10  members. 
A.  G.  Eberhart  appears  as  pastor  at  Waterloo,  with  102 
members  and  A.  D.  Bush  at  Waverly.  The  youiTg  Asso- 
ciation starts  oft'  in  the  great  Cedar  Valley  with  a  cluster 
of  names  in  its  ministry  that  are  destined  to  be  historic  in 
Iowa  Baptist  annals.  It  is  hard  to  realize  that  less  than 
thirty  years  ago  there  were  to  be  found  here  only  these 
small  beginnings. 

The  Second  Anniversary  was  held  at  Waverly.  A.  D. 
Bush  is  still  secretary.  Already  the  cords  are  rapidly 
lengthening.  The  year  has  been  one  of  great 
prosperity,  Seven  new  Churches  are  added, 
six  of  them  organized  within  the  year.  These  are  Cedar 
Falls,  Chickasaw,  Clarksville,  Independence,  Janesville, 
Rockford  and  Rock  Grove.  U.  R.  AValton  is  reported 
pastor  at  Cedar  Falls,  D.  B.  Mead  at  Rock  Grove,  and 
J.  H.  Parmelee  at  St.  Charles  City.  Other  pastors  are 
Terry,  Chapin,  Eberhart  and  A.  D.  Bush.  Brother  Eber- 
hart has  baptized  23  at  Waterloo,  and  Brother  Bush  16  at 
Waverl}^  Churches  13;  pastors  7;  members  494;  bap- 
tisms 78.  The  Churches  in  the  Association  are  scattered 
over  Benton,  Buchanan,  Black  Hawk,  Butler,  Bremer, 
Chickasaw,  Floyd  and  Mitchell  counties,  the  very  heart  of 
northern  Iowa.  Three  meeting  houses  have  been  completed 
during  the  year.  The  Toledo  Church  withdraws  to  unite 
in  the  organization  of  the  Iowa  Valley  Association  just 
organized  this  year. 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  221 

Meets  at  Independence  September  23.  Rev.  U.  R.  Wal- 
ter is  Secretary.  New  Churches  have  been  organized  at 
Floyd,  Providence,  and  Fairbank.  These  unite 
with  the  Association,  making,  with  the  Polk 
Church,  also  enrolled  for  the  first  time,  IG  Churches,  with 
9  pastors,  who  have  baptized  60  persons,  total  membership 
517.  Rev.  H.  H.  Burrington  has  succeeded  Rev.  A.  I). 
Bush  at  Waverly.  Rev.  John  Fulton  lias  begun  pastoral 
work  at  Independence.  Rev.  E.  G.  O.  Groat  is  preaching 
at  Chickasaw  and  Providence,  and  Rev.  P.  Colgrove  at 
Fairbank.  The  Vinton  Church  is  transferred  to  Linn 
Association.  Brother  Eberhart  has  baptized  26  at  Water- 
loo and  now  reports  140  members.  In  1860  the  Association 
met  at  Charles  City.  Rev.  H.  H.  Burrington  is  Secretary. 
New  Churches  are  admitted  from  Fredericksburg,  Rev.  E. 
G.  O.  Groat,  pastor;  Frederica,  Rev.  J.  F.  Rairden,  pastor; 
Lester,  same  pastor,  and  Osage  and  Mitchell,  A.  J.  Colby, 
pastor.  Rev.  Alva  Bush  is  preaching  at  Fairbank.  The 
first  mentioned  in  connection  with  this  Association  of  a 
name  than  which  none,  in  its  subsequent  history,  is  sug- 
gestive of  more  sacred  memories.  Rev.  A.  D,  Bush  is  now 
located  at  St.  Charles.  New  Hartford,  Rockford,  Water- 
loo and  Cedar  Falls  are  pastorless.  Churches  19;  pastors 
10;  baptisms  within  the  year  82,  and  a  total  membership 
of  593.     Rev.  A.  G.  Eberhart  has  removed  to  Cedar  Rapids. 

The  annual  meeting  is  at  Cedar  Falls.  Brother  Bur- 
rington continues  as  clerk.  Rev.  C.  E.  Bailey  is  pastor  at 
Cedar  Falls,  and  Brother  S.  Sherman  at  Eden, 
a  new  Church  with  12  members.  The  largest 
number  of  baptisms  is  by  Rev.  A.  I).  Bush  at  St.  Charles, 
6.  It  is  a  year  of  spiritual  dearth.  The  Frederica  Church 
received  last  year  does  not  appear,  while  the  Eden  Just 
received  takes  its  place,  making  the  number  the  same. 
The  name  of  the  Lester  Church   is  changed  to  Lester  and 


222  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Barcley.  While  it  is  not  the  purpose  of  these  Sketches  to 
perpetuate  tlie  names  of  unworthy  men  who  have  dis- 
honored the  ministerial  office,  yet  the  truth  of  history,  and 
the  lesson  it  conveys,  warrant  the  following  reminiscense  of 
this  period.  In  1861  the  name  of  C.  E.  Bailey  appears  as 
pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Cedar  Falls,  and  they 
report  64  members.  The  next  year  his  name  appears  in 
the  list  of  ministers  as  living  at  Cedar  Falls,  but  "without 
charge."  A.  G.  Eberhart  has  succeeded  him  and  they 
report  37.  Bailey's  name  is  no  longer  found.  As  we 
write  this  sketch  in  18SG  the  same  man  has  just  visited  the 
village  where  we  write  as  one  of  the  principle  participants 
in  a  Horse  Trotting  and  Racing  Association,  where 
gambling  is  the  principle  business.  ''He  went  to  his  own 
company.'' 

The  Seventh  annual  meeting  took  place  at  Waterloo. 
y.  W.  Baker,  Charles  City,  clerk.  Rev.  A.  G.  Eberhart 
has  returned  and  become  pastor  at  Cedar  Falls; 
1862.  2.  A.  Bryant  at  Chickasaw.  Rev.  E.  G.  O.  Groat 
has  removed  from  Fredericksburgh  to  New  Hartford.  Rev. 
C.  Billings  Smith  is  pastor  at  Waterloo,  and  Rev.  H.  I. 
Parker  at  Osage  and  Mitchell.  The  Churches  in  this  large 
field  are  very  weak.  Only  three  in  the  Association  report 
more  than  50  members.  These  are  Rock  Grove  55;  Water- 
loo 105  and  Waverly  60.  Waterloo  reports  the  small- 
est number  this  year,  since  the  organization  of  the  Associa- 
tion. The  Clarkesville  Church  is  no  longer  found.  Rev. 
J.  R.  Dean,  the  last  pastor,  died  August  19, 1863,  of  hemor- 
rhage of  the  lungs.  He  had  removed,  with  his  family,  to 
Pike's  Peak,  hoping  to  regain  his  health,  but  God  ordered 
it  otherwise.  Brother  Dean  was  a  graduate  of  Kalamazoo 
Theological  Seminary.  He  came  to  Iowa  in  1857  and  was 
ordained  pastor  of  the  New  Hartford  Church  at  the  meet- 
ing of    the    dissociation    at   Waterloo,    September,   1857. 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  223 

Another  pastor  of  the  Associatioii,  Brother  Colgrove,  of 
Fairbank,  Fayette  county,  died  August  1,  1869.  [See 
obituary  notes.] 

Met  at  Waverl}  .     Clerk  same  as  last  year.     In  a  report 

to   tlie   Convention  in   October   of   this   year,   Rev.  Wm. 

Wood  says  this  meetins:  was  "  characterized  by 

1  o  «  q  '' 

harmony  and  a  commendable  devotional  spirit. 
Every  Churcli  in  the  Association  was  represented,  and  two 
new  ones  added.  The  letters  indicated  increased  prosper- 
ity.'' Brother  Wood  makes  his  first  appearance  in  this 
field  this  year,  and  labors  as  a  missionary  of  the  Conven- 
tion in  the  northern  part  of  this  Association.  The  new 
Churches  organized  are  Jacksonville,  H.  Green,  pastor, 
and  Grove  Hill,  J.  F.  Eairden,  pastor.  Other  new  pastors 
are  J.  C.  H.  Miller,  at  Chickasaw,  and  Brother  Gibbs,  at 
New  Hartford.  Brother  Eberhart  has  baptized  26  at  Cedar 
Falls,  J.  Fulton  11  at  Independence,  and  S.  Sherman  11  at 
Fredericksburgh. 

Met  with  the  Church  at  Osage,  Rev.  Wm.  L.  Hunter, 
clerk,  Waterloo.  A  Church  has  been  organized  at  Hardin 
City,  A.  Orcott  pastor.  Shell  Rock  has  also  or- 
ganized with  21  members.  Rev.  S.  Sill  pastor 
here  and  at  Janesville.  The  name  of  the  Polk  Church  is 
changed  to  Syracuse.  Rev.  H.  I.  Parker  has  removed 
from  Osage  and  Mitchell,  and  W.  Ross  is  pastor.  Brother 
Parker's  stay  in  Iowa  was  short,  but  as  he  labored  just 
over  the  border  in  Minnesota  for  a  number  of  years  he  was 
not  lost  sight  of  in  Iowa,  nor  did  he  lose  interest  in  Iowa 
affairs.  A  man  of  marked  culture  and  ability,  but  not  very 
firm  health,  he  spent  his  later  life  in  California  and  died 
there  only  a  year  or  two  ago.  Rev.  A.  Marsh  has  begun  a 
long  and  useful  service  at  Riceville.  Another  name  prom- 
inent in  later  years  is  that  of  Rev.  T.  H.  Judson,  pastor  at 


224  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

West  Fork.  The  column  of  Benevolent  Contributions  tins 
year  amounts  to  $515.43,  Rev.  Wm.  L.  Hunter  is  pastor 
at  Waterloo. 

The  Annual  meeting  is  at  Charles  City,  J  C.  Whitney 
clerk.  Four  new  Churches  are  received  in  1865,  Mission 
Kidge,  Wayne,  Hampton,  and  Chapin,  The 
reports  bear  marks  of  increased  prosperity  and 
spiritual  power.  Brother  Hunter  reports  19  baptized,  and 
34  additions  in  all  at  Waterloo,  and  Brother  Judson  18 
baptisms,  and  26  additions  at  West  Fork.  Rev.  J.  C.  H. 
Miller  has  baptized  20  at  Riceville,  Rev.  J.  Fulton  20  at 
Independence.  Churches,  29,  pastors  16,  baptisms  110,  total 
membership  1,063,  for  the  first  time  above  1,000.  Rev.  J. 
M.  Wedgewood  appears  as  pastor  at  Eden  Church,  R.  L. 
Jones  at  Floyd,  Rev.  T.  F.  Thickstun  at  Waverly.  The 
Iowa  Baptist  State  Convention  is  taking  hold  in  this  large 
field,  and  helping  forward  the  growth  of  this  Association. 
Besides  Rev.  Wm.  Wood,  Associational  Missionary  this 
j-ear,  Rev.  T.  H.  Judson  was  under  appointment  at  Hamp- 
ton, Chapin,  etc.,  and  Rev.  Rev.  S.  Sherman  at  Tripoli.  In 
1864  Revs.  J.  C.  H.  Miller,  S.  Sherman,  and  Wm.  Wood 
were  under  appointment  in  this  Association.  One  effect  of 
this  close  relation  to  the  Missionary  Societies  will  always 
be  to  stimulate  the  benevolence  of  the  Churches,  and  that 
is  to  stimulate  and  keep  in  tone  the  active  Christian  spirit. 

The  eleventh  Anniversar}^ — so  called,  though  it  is  only 
the  tenth  Anniversary^ — of  the  Association  occurred  with 
the  Church  at  Waterloo,  convening  September  21, 
at  10  a.  m..  Rev.  John  Fulton  of  Independence 
Moderator,  J.  Cheston  AVhitney  of  Hampton  clerk.  Brother 
S.  Sill  of  Shell  Rock  preached  the  introductory  sermon 
from  Proverbs  XI:30.  The  Church  at  Jessup  was  received 
into  the  Association.     The  year  has  been  one  of  unusual 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  225 

prosperity.  There  have  been  received  into  the  Churches 
by  baptism  150,  and  by  letter  194,  and  the  present  member- 
ship is  1291,  a  net  increase  for  the  year  of  222.  At  Waterloo 
Rev.  W.  L.  Hunter  has  baptized  41,  at  AVaverly  Rev.  T.  F. 
Thiclvstun  23,  Hardin  City,  Cedar  Falls  and  New  Hartford 
follow  with  20,  18,  and  U  respectively.  Rev.  John  Fulton 
retires  from  a  six  or  seven  years'  pastorate  at  Independence, 
and  is  preaching  at  Jessup  and  other  points.  Rev.  W.  C. 
Learned  is  the  young  pastor  at  Independence.  Rev.  C.  T. 
Tucker  has  entered  the  work  as  pastor  at  Charles.  City, 
Rev.  A.  W.  Hilton  at  Gfrove  Hill,  Rev.  C.  D.  Farnsworth 
at  Syracuse.  Rev.  A.  Bush  is  preaching  at  Osage  and 
Mitchell  in  connection  with  his  work  in  the  Cedar  Valley 
Seminary.  This  Anniversary  at  Waterloo  was  a  very  in- 
spiring occasion,  partaking  of  the  aggressive  zeal  and 
quickened  activity  that  so  generally  marked  these  3^ears 
of  the  sixties  in  Iowa  and  the  west.  Rev.  G.  J.  Johnson 
was  present  and  preached  and  took  a  collection  for  the 
Publication  Society,  amounting  in  cash  and  pledges  to 
^100.  A  resolution  was  passed  heartily  approving  "  the 
Prohibitory  Liquor  Law  of  the  state,  and  that  we  as  heart- 
ily condemn  the  inefficiency  of  those  Judicial  officers  who, 
for  political  or  personal  considerations  neglect  to  enforce 
it."  The  Obituary  Committee  make  sad  mention  of  the 
loss  by  death  of  the  wife  of  our  beloved  brother.  Rev.  John 
Fulton  of  Independence,  and  of  the  serious  and  lingering 
sickness  of  Rev.  Hazzard  Green  of  Jacksonville,  Chickasaw 
county,  who  subsequently  died  January  6,  1867.  The  har- 
vest of  the  stern  reaper  in  Iowa  during  this  year  was  one 
of  very  choice  sheaves,  of  which  notice  will  appear  in  the 
proper  place. 

The  Association  met  at  Janesville.  W.  L.  Hunter, 
clerk,  Waterloo.  The  Church  at  Mason  Ciry  was  organ- 
ized in  1866.     There  are  also  Cliurches  reported  at  Nashua, 


226  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

ISTorth  Washington  and    at  Applington.     Some   of   these, 

at    least,  are  destined   to  be  of  short  duration. 
1  RRV 

G.    W.    Goodrich   is  reported     pastor   at   Eden 

Church,  and  D.  P.  Maryatt,  this  year  and  last,  at  New- 
Hartford.  This  Association,  now  eleven  years  old,  is  the 
largest,  as  to  number  of  churches  and  pastors,  in  the 
State.  There  are  now,  churches  33;  pastors  20;  baptized 
within  the  year  151;  received  from  all  sources  356,  and  a 
total  membership  of  1,526.  Rev.  L.  N.  Call  has  become 
pastor  at  Hampton  and  Chapin. 

The  annivesary  in  1868  was  at  New  Hartford.  W.  L. 
Hunter,  clerk,  Waterloo.  Rev.  A.  G.  Eberhart  has  closed 
a  six  years  pastorate  at  Cedar  Falls,  and  is  succeeded  by 
Rev.  D.  N.  Mason.  Rev.  W.  C.  Learned  made  but  a  brief 
sta3^  in  our  Iowa  ministry,  though  long  enough  to  be  much 
esteemed,  and  after  an  interval  is  succeeded  at  Independ- 
ence by  Rev.  A.  D.  Bush,  who  returns  to  Iowa  after  several 
years  absence  in  the  east.  Rev.  A.  Carpenter  is  preaching 
at  Hardin  City  and  Rev.  C.  Spragg  at  Jessup.  Brother 
John  Fulton  has  transferred  his  labors,  for  a  time,  to  the 
State  of  Illinois.  One  hundred  and  seventy-nine  baptisms 
were  reported,  and  a  total  membership  of  1,699.  Of  the  35 
Churches  in  this  large  field,  including  a  number  of  central 
and  growing  towns,  there  are  only  two  Churches  of  over 
100  members.  Waterloo  has  252  and  Waverly  135.  Rev. 
T.  F.  Thicks  tun,  who  began  his  ministry  in  Waverly  in 
1865,  has  resigned  to  take  up  the  important  work  awaiting 
him  at  Council  Bluffs. 

Osage  is  the  place  of  meeting.  Moderator,  Rev.  J. 
Hall,    D.    D.,   clerk,  Rev.   W-  L.    Hunter,    Independence. 

Brother  Hunter  after  baptizing  44,  at  Waterloo 

1869 

in  1868,  closed   a  four  or  five  years'   pastorate 

there,  and  is  pastor  at  Independence.      He  is  succeeded 


OF    IOWA   BAPTISTS.  227 

at  Waterloo  by  Rev.  Wm.  Tilley.  Rev.  D.  N-  Mason  has 
resigned  at  Cedar  Falls,  and  they  are  without  a  pastor 
though  they  report  30  baptisms  this  year.  How  sad  it  is 
that  just  after  a  revival  of  religion,  and  oftentimes  when 
there  has  been  a  large  in-gathering,  needing  the  greatest 
care,  then  the  minister  has  to  leave,  and  the  lambs  are 
left  to  the  wolves!  Is  it  the  fault  of  the  minister?  or  of 
the  Church^  Or  of  both?  Is  it  not  true  that  while  in 
modern  times  we  magnify  the  first  part  of  the  Great  Com- 
mission, "Go,  and  make  Disciples,"  we  have  too  much  over- 
looked the  second  part,  "  teaching  them  to  observe  all  things, 
whatsoever  I  have  commanded  you"^  Rev.  Thomas  Ure  is 
now  preaching  at  Mitchell,  P.  S.  Crandall  at  Mason  City, 
and  A.  T.  Cole  at  Waverly.  The  Winthrop  Church  comes 
into  the  Association,  Rev.  Myron  Root,  pastor.  Churches 
36;  pastors  21;  baptized  121;  present  membership  1,851. 
The  largest  now,  as  to  Churches  and  members  in  the  State. 
The  contributions  for  the  Convention,  in  1869,  were 
$608.50,  the  largest  of  any  Association  except  the  Linn, 
which  was  S670.58.  The  previous  year  the  amount  raised 
in  the  Cedar  Valley  was  $932.05,  of  which,  however, 
$542.35  was  raised  by,  and  paid  to  Rev.  Wm.  Wood,  Asso- 
ciational  Missionary. 

The   Association   convened   at  Waverly  September   23, 
W.  L.  Hunter,  Independence,  clerk.     Among  new  pastors 

we   notice   D.  S.  Starr  at  Cedar  Falls,  C.  T.  Roe, 
1  Rvn 

Charles  City,  W.  M.  Simons,  Jessup,  A.  Plum- 

ly,  Rockford,  G.  M.  Adams  Shell  Rock,  and  E.  K.  Cressey 

Waterloo.     Zion  Church,  southwest  of  Waterloo,  has  just 

been  formed,  L.  H.  Thompson  pastor,  where  17  have  been 

baptized.     136  baptisms  reported  and  1880  members.     The 

value  of  Church  property  is  placed  at  $75,000.     In  1871 

met  at  Charles  City,  E.  K.  Cressey  of  Charles  City  clerk. 

The  number  of  Churches  has  fallen  off  to  30,  pastors  18, 


228  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

baptized  149.  Received  from  all  sources  349,  total  member- 
ship 1879.  Rev.  E.  K.  Oressey  lias  removed  from  Waterloo 
to  Charles  Cit}'-,  and  the  veteran  Rev.  A.  G.  Eberhart  is 
again  preaching  at  Waterloo.  Rev.  H.  C.  Henry  is  preach- 
ing at  a  new  Church  called  Geneseo,  organized  the  past 
year.  Rev.  M.  E.  Arkills  has  been  several  years  pastor  at 
Fredericksburg,  Rev.  L.  Ellingwood  a  year  or  two  at  Otter 
Creek,  and  Rev.  E.  P.  Barker  at  Parkersburg.  Rev.  S.  C. 
Sale  is  pastor  at  Mason  City.  J.  S.  Cox  at  New  Hartford, 
and  Rev.  J.  N.  Lukins  at  Riceville. 

The  Association  met  at  Mason  City  Rev.  L.  N.  Call, 
of  Hampton,  clerk.  Rev.  W.  H.  Stiller  is  pastor  at  Cedar 
Falls.  Charles  City  has  Rev.  W.  W.  Whitcomb 
as  pastor,  and  reports  50  baptisms.  Rev.  T.  H- 
Judson,  at  Rock  Grove,  reports  34.  Rev.  G.  W.  Preston  is 
pastor  at  Independence,  Rev.  F.  A.  Marsh  at  Waverly  and 
J.  Hall,  D.  D.,  at  Shell  Rock.  Rev.  S.  Sill  is  preaching  at 
Plainfield.  There  are  noAv  31  Churches  reporting,  20  pas- 
tors, 151  baptisms  reported,  and  a  total  membership  of 
2,050.  The  only  Association  reporting  over  1,800.  In 
1873  Shell  Rock  is  the  place  of  meeting.  Rev.  L.  N.  Call, 
of  Hampton,  clerk.  Rev.  C.  T.  Tucker,  after  an  absence 
from  the  Association  and  the  State,  returns  and  is  pastor 
at  Mason  City.  Rev.  E.  L.  Benedict  is  pastor  at  Mitchell, 
N.  H.  Daily  at  Plainfield,  J.  A.  Abbott  at  Rock  Grove  and 
Rev.  A.  A.  Russell  atAVaterloo.  Churches  30;  pastors  18; 
baptized  59;  total  membership  1.969.  The  Association 
occupies  the  great  central  district  of  Northern  Iowa,  com- 
prising the  counties  of  Black  Hawk,  Bremer,  Butler, 
Floyd,  Chickasaw,  Mitchell,  Cerro  Gordo  and  Franklin, 
and  at  times,  parts  of  other  counties. 

The  anniversary  takes  place  at  Jessup.     Rev.  W.  H. 
Stifier,   clerk.  Cedar   Falls.      Rev.    Wm.    M.    Simons   has 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  229 

removed  from  Jessup  to  Fredericksburgh.  Rev.  F.  A. 
Marsh  has  succeeded  Brother   Hunter    at  Independence. 

Rev.   H.  I).  AVeaver  is  at  New  Hartford.Rev.  R. 

Garton  begins  his  long  and  successful  pastorate 
at  Waterloo.  Rev.  T.  F.  Thickstun  has  returned  to  his 
old  field  at  Waverly.  Brother  Stiller  has  baptized  68  at 
Cedar  Falls,  and  Waterloo  reports  55  baptisms.  It  is  a 
year  of  progress  in  the  Association,  and  of  labor  well 
repaid.     Baptisms  266:  members  2,070. 

In  1875  the  Association  met  at  Cedar  Falls.  W.  H. 
Stiller,  clerk.  At  Shell  Rock  Rev.  B.  H.  Bras  led  has  bap- 
tized 32,  and  at  Waverl}^  Rev.  Robert  Leslie,  pastor,  28. 
Rev.  W.  L.  Hunter  is  preaching  at  Charles  City,  F.  H. 
Hannah  at  Clear  Lake,  G.  W.  Prescott  at  Nora  Springs 
and  Rock  Grove,  A.  J.  Amerman  at  Plainfield  and  C.  T. 
Emerson  at  Riceville  and  Wayne.  The  aggregate  amount 
paid  for  Church  expenses  is  put  down  at  $15,319.70,  and 
the  benevolent  contributions  at  $2,125.15.  Rev.  L.  N.  Call 
has  closed  a  pastorate  of  eight  years  at  Hampton  and 
become  Financial  Agent  of  the  Cedar  Valley  Seminaiy,  at 
Osage.  The  Church  at  Hampton  is  doing  without  a  pastor 
and  making  an  effort  to  pay  off  their  debt  of  $3,200  by 
July,  1876.  An  obituary  report  tells  of  the  death  of  Rev. 
Shadrach  Sherman,  who  died  at  Riceville,  Iowa,  January 
7,  1875.  The  Church  at  Nora  Springs  was  organized  last 
February,  recognized  in  July  and  admitted  to  the  Asso- 
ciation at  this  session.  Rev.  Alva  Bush  was  Moderator. 
Rev.  Wm.  Whitney,  of  Osage,  preached  the  introductory 
sermon.  Rev,  Robert  Leslie  has  succeeded  Pastor  Thick- 
stun  at  Waverly. 

The  Twentieth  Anniversary  was  held  with  the  Church 
at  Fredericksburgh,  September  8.  Rev.  Richard  Garton 
preached  the    introductory  sermon  and  was  elected   Mod- 


230  HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES 

erator,  and  Rev.  Robert  Leslie,  of  Waverl}^,  clerk.  Upon 
the  report  of  tlie  proper  committee  the  names  of  the  Chap- 
in,  Geneseo  and  Otter  Creek  Churches  were  strick- 
en from  the  Minutes.  Rev.  W.  H.  Stiller  has 
closed  a  four  years'  pastoral  term  at  Cedar  Falls,  and  has 
removed  to  Cedar  Rapids,  in  the  Linn  Association. 
Appreciative  mention  is  made  of  the  missionary  work  of 
Rev.  E.  L.  Benedict  among  the  feeble  Churches  in  the 
western  part  of  the  Association.  Rev.  S.  H.  Mitchell 
became  pastor  at  Shell  Rock  in  February  last.  Much  in- 
terest is  felt  in  the  affairs  of  the  Cedar  Valley  Seminary, 
and  in  the  efforts  being  made  to  increase  its  finances.  A 
good  revival  spirit  has  pervaded  many  of  the  Churches. 
There  are  now  in  the  body  30  Churches,  19  pastors,  167 
have  been  received  by  baptism,  125  by  letter,  and  the 
present  membership  is  2,068.  Brother  Carton  has  bap- 
tized 60  at  Waterloo  and  they  have  now  275  members. 

Charles  City  is  the  place  of  the  anniversary.     Rev.  R. 
Leslie,  clerk.      Another  year  of  glorious  reaping.     Bap- 
tisms 218:    total  membership  2,267.     More  than 
1  RVV 

ever  before,  and  more,  by  500,   than  any  other 

Association  in  Iowa.  Rev.  L.  T.  Bush  is  pastor  at  Cedar 
Falls,  where  his  admirable  spirit  is  very  helpful  in  a  time 
of  need.  The  Church  have  suffered  greatly  during  the 
last  year  by  the  abuse  of  an  unworthy  minister.  Rev. 
James  Patterson  is  pastor  at  Independence.  Rev.  Wm.  M. 
Simons  has  returned  from  Fredericksburgh  to  Jessup. 
Rev.  C.  H.  Mitchelmore  has  succeeded,  at  Shell  Rock,  the 
one  Mitchell,  who  has  removed  and  become  pastor  at 
Grundy  Center,  in  the  Iowa  Valley  Association. 

In  1878  the  Association  met  at  Clear  Lake.  Rev.  Robert 
Leslie,  of  Waverly,  clerk.  Baptized  150;  present  member- 
ship 2,422.     Rev.  A.  Myers  is  pastor  at  Charles  City,  H. 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  231 

C.  Nash,  at  Clear  Lake,  W.  L.  Hunter  at  Floyd,  J.  A. 
Abbott,  at  Fredericksburgh,  Rev.  Wm.  Wilder  lias 
become  pastor  at  Hampton,  L.  D.  Lamkin  at  Nora  Springs, 
A.  B.  Coates  at  Mitchell,  N.  F.  Hoyt  at  Northwood, 
Thomas  lire  at  Riceville  and  Wayne  and  A.  E.  Spring  at 
Plainfield. 

Met  at  Hampton.     J.  C.  Whitney,  of  Hampton,  is  clerk. 
Cedar  Falls  is  again  without  a  pastor.      Rev.  C.  T.  Tucker 

has  returned  to  Charles  City.     Rev.  G.  Suther- 

1879 

land  is  at  Independence.      Rev.   A.   E.   Simons 

has  taken  up  the  work  at  Parkersburg,  where  a  house  is 
to  be  built  for  the  Lord.  Rev.  D.  B.  Mead  is  preaching  at 
Rock  Grove  this  year  and  last.  A  Church  has  been  organ- 
ized at  Rudd  where  twenty  have  been  baptizt^d  and  there 
are  41  members,  with  M.  E.  Arkills  as  pastor.  Rev.  B.  H. 
Brasted  has  served  the  Shell  Rock  Church  for  two  years. 
Rev.  Robert  Leslie  has  closed  a  four  years'  pastorate  at 
W^averly,  and  Rev.  T.  J.  Keith  has  succeeded  liim.  There 
are  now  in  the  Association,  34  Churches,  20  pastors,  143 
baptisms  reported  and  a  total  membersbip  of  2,524.  The 
largest  by  over  700  in  the  State,  and  the  greatest  number 
of  Churches  by  ten.  Of  the  20  Churches  having  pastors, 
seven  have  begun  their  work  in  1879,  six  began  in  1878 
and  are  on  their  second  year,  while  Rev.  J.  A.  Abbott, 
of  Fredericksburg!  1,  Wm.  Wilder,  of  Hampton,  Wm.  M. 
Simons,  of  Jessup,  and  Thomas  Ure,  of  Riceville,  settled  in 
1877  and  are  now  on  their  third  year,  and  Rev.  Richard 
Gar  ton,  of  Waterloo,  is  on  his  fourth. 

The  anniversary  this  year  is  at  Independence.     J.  C. 

Whitney  still  serving  as  clerk.  Rev.  O.  T.  Conger  has 
become  pastor  at  Osage,  A.  R.  Button  at  Cold 
Water,  a  new  organization.  Rev.  M.  H.  Perry  at 

Fredericksburgh,  succeeding    J.   A.  Abbott  who    is    now 


232  HISTOKICAL    SKETCHES 

preaching  at  Plainfield,  and  Thomas  Ure  is  preaching  at 
Wayne.  Rev.  A.  R.  Button  is  preaching  also  at  Rockwell 
and  Sheffield  Churches.  Waterloo  entertained  the  Asso- 
niation  in  1881.  J.  C.  Whitney,  clerk.  Of  20  Churches 
having  pastors,  eleven  date  their  settlement  the  present 
year.  We  are  introducted  to  quite  an  array  of  new  names, 
S.  M.  Davis  at  Bethel  Church,  Henry  Williams  at  Cedar 
Falls,  H.  B.  Waterman  at  Clear  Lake,  J.  G.  Johnson  at 
Fredericksburgh,  F.  Bower  at  Jessup,  W.  H.  H.  Avery  at 
Mason  City,  J.  W.  Daniels  at  Northwood,  E.  H.  Page  at 
Osage,  L.  W.  Atkins  at  Rock  Grove,  and  J.  J.  Mclntyre  at 
Shell  Rock.  Hampton,  Waverly  and  Independence,  with 
ten  other  churches,  are  without  pastors.  Rev.  Wm. 
Wilder,  in  infirm  health,  has  removed  to  Minneapolis, 
Minnesota,  there  to  tarry  for  a  few  years  and  to  obtain  his 
honorable  discharge  and  go  to  his  well-earned  rest.  Rev. 
T.  J.  Keith  has  resigned  at  Waverly  to  take  charge  of  the 
East  Side  Baptist  Church,  Des  Moines.  The  only  form  of 
activity  that  seems  to  have  characterized  this  year  among 
the  churches,  is  activity  among  the  ministers  and  their 
families  moving  from  field  to  field.  The}^  at  least  are  not 
likely  to  become  sluggish  for  want  of  exercise.  It  is 
noticeable,  however,  that  the  spiritual  dearth  is  general. 
Only  638  baptisms  are  reported  in  all  the  State,  against  1,075 
the  year  before.  The  first  year  that  less  than  a  thousand 
have  been  reported  since  1863,  when  tlie  war  was  distract- 
ing the  country.  It  will  be  a  relief  to  note,  as  we  shall, 
that  the  low  water  mark  has  been  reached,  and  that  the 
Lord  has  not  forgotten  to  be  gracious  to  his  Zion. 

The  Association  met  at  Osage.     A.  R.  Button,  of  Osage, 

clerk.     A  general  weeding  has  taken  place  and  the  names 

of     10    churches    are     missed     from     the     list. 

1  p  p  o 

churches  23;    pastors  18;  received   by  baptisms 
106;    by   letter   59;    present   membership   2.059.       Of  the 


EICHABD  GARTON,  D.   D. 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  233 

Cliurclies  having  pastors,  ten  date  their  settlement  within 
the  year.  Wt>  note  Rev.  C.  Holroyd  at  Charles  City,  J. 
F.  Bryant  at  Sheffield  and  Cold  Water,  James  Mitchell  at 
Fredericksburgh,  L.  B.  Plummer  at  Hampton,  W.  C.  Pratt 
at  iS^ew  Hartford,  F.  W.  Gardner  preaching  at  Plainfield, 
Gr.  G.  Dougherty  at  Rock  Grove,  and  G.  W.  Burnham,  of 
Leroy,  Minnesota,  at  Wayne  Chnrch.  Rev.  W.  M.  Simons  has 
removed  from  New  Hartford,  to  which  place  he  had  removed 
from  Jessup,  in  1880,  to  Waverly.  Rev.  C.  T.  Tucker  has 
removed  from  Charles  City,  closing  a  three  years'  second 
pastorate  with  that  Church,  to  Clarinda  in  the  South- 
western Association,  taking  up  there  a  very  important  and 
arduous  work  for  which  he  seems  to  be  the  one  man  espec- 
ially fitted.  In  1883  Mason  City  is  to  entertain  the  Asso- 
ciation. Rev.  A.  R.  Button,  of  Osage,  clerk.  Brother 
Button  has  been  for  a  couple  of  years  engaged  in  a  most 
important  and  successful  work  as  Financial  Secretary  of 
the  Cedar  Valley  Seminar}^,  for  which  he  resigned  his 
work  at  Sheffield  and  Cold  Water,  some  two  years  ago. 
Rev.  I.  W.  Edson  is  pastor  at  Charles  City,  Rev.  A.  C. 
Nichols  at  Plainfield.  Rev.  Henry  Williams  has  closed 
a  three  years'  pastorate  at  Cedar  Falls  and  is  preaching  at 
Rock  Grove,  P.  O.  Nora  Springs. 

The  Association  met  at  Waverly.  Rev.  A.  R.  Button 
still  serves  as  clerk.  Churches  26;  pastors  17;  received  by 
baptism  57 ;  by  letter  68 ;  present  member- 
ship 2,041.  The  ratio  of  baptisms  in  this, 
still  the  largest  of  the  Associations,  to  those  in  the 
State — 57  to  1,538,  seems  to  indicate  an  almost  phenomenal 
barrenness  in  this  part  of  Iowa.  We  notice,  however, 
that  only  three  Associations  in  the  State  report  above  100 
baptisms  this  year;  Keokuk  126;  Southwestern  142,  and 
Central  292.  These  bring  up  the  aggregate  to  the  figures 
stated.      There  is  no  general  revival.      Of  the  pastors  in 


234  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

this  Association  this  year,  the  following  are  introduced 
for  the  first  time:  Rev,  J,  C.  Shipp,  Charles  City;  Rev. 
Robert  Smith,  Fredericks  burgh;  Rev.  B.  G.  Boardman, 
Hampton;  Rev.  A.  J.  Colwell,  Mason  City,  and  Rev.  A.  M. 
Duboc,  Osage.  Rev.  J.  B.  Edmonson  has  removed  from 
Parkersburg  to  Shell  Rock.  Rev.  A.  M.  Duboc  begins  a 
work  at  Osage,  that  is  to  culminate  in  a  new  and  commo- 
dious Church  Edifice  soon. 

The  place  of  meeting  is  Charles  City.  Rev.  H.  H.  Bur- 
rington,  of  Waverl}',  is  clerk.  Brother  Burrington  returns 
thus  to  the  position  which  he  honored  in  1860 
and  1861,  25  years  ago.  The  brethren  honor 
themselves  by  thus  honoring  him.  Churches  25;  pastors 
16;  baptized  202;  total  membershii3  2,052.  The  number  of 
baptisms  is  the  largest  of  any  Association  in  the  State, 
Only  three  others  reach  100  or  over,  Davenport  138,  South- 
western 142  and  Upper  Des  Moines  100,  Mason  City  reports 
the  largest  number  of  baptisms,  63;  Waterloo  38.  Rev. 
W.  W.  Onderdonk  has  been  ordained  pastor  at  Cedar 
Falls.  Rev.  A.  Hunt  is  pastor  at  Cold  Water  and  Sheffield 
Robert  Smith  at  Fredericksburgh,  J.  P.  Stephenson  at 
Hampton,  P.  E.  Moore  at  Waverly,  Rev.  E.  Pierce,  of  the 
Wayne  Church,  and  Rev.  L.  A.  Hall  at  Mason  City.  Rev. 
W.  L.  Hunter  is  now  preaching  at  New  Hartford. 

Being,  as  has  been  seen,  much  the  largest  Association  in 
the  State.  Occupying  one  of  its  greatest  and  most  prosperous 
vallej^s,  with  a  large  number  of  thriving  towns  and  cities. 
Having  always  a  full  share  of  the  ablest  ministers  in  the 
State  and  early  made  the  field  of  the  missionary  activity 
and  beneficence  of  our  State  and  Home  Mission  Societies. 
The  Cedar  Valley  Association  may  fairly  be  taken  as  a 
representative  body  in  the  respects  named,  and  its  history 
may  be  studied  with  profit  in  the  light  of  the  bearing  of 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  236 

the  past  upon  the  future.  A  brief  comparison  of  the  past 
ten  years,  with  the  decade  just  preceding,  presents  some 
figures  that  may  safely  be  left  without  comment  by  the 
historian.  The  contributions  of  the  Churches  and  mem- 
bers of  this  Association  from  1876  to  1885  and  inclusive, 
to  the  treasury  of  the  Convention,  were  $2,099.25,  or  an 
average  of  S209.92i  per  year.  From  1866  to  1875,  the  pre- 
ceding decade,  they  were  $3,998.95,  or  an  average  of 
$399.89^  per  3^ear.  Two  things  need  to  be  taken  into  con- 
sideration in  giving  these  statements  their  proper  weight, 
1st,  that  during  the  earlier  half  of  the  earlier  decade,  when 
the  largest  amounts  were  raised,  a  larger  portion  of  it  was 
for  Associational  Missionary  work,  conducted  by  Rev. 
Wm.  Wood,  who  was  a  very  successful  collector;  and, 
2d,  that  during  the  last  half  of  the  later  decade  collections 
have  been  in  the  name  of  the  Convention  and  Home  Mis- 
sion Society,  whereas,  during  the  earlier  ten  years  what- 
ever was  collected  for  the  Home  Mission  Society  would  be 
additional  to  the  amount  given  above.  During  a  part  of 
this  time  not  less  than  eight  pastors  or  missionaries,  in 
the  field  of  this  Association,  were  being  aided  by  the 
Home  Mission  Society.  It  is  reasonable  to  infer  that  con- 
tributions, to  that  Society,  were  considerable  in  addition 
to  amounts  reported  for  the  Convention.  From  whatever 
cause,  the  benevolence  of  the  Churches  of  this  Associa- 
tion in  the  direction  of  contributions  to  State  and  Home 
Missions  during  the  last  decade,  shows  a  remarkable  fall- 
ing off  from  the  decade  immediately  preceding.  A  com- 
parison of  spiritual  results  for  the  same  period  gives  the 
following  results:  The  number  of  baptisms  for  the  ten 
years,  from  1866  to  1875,  was  1,447,  or  an  average  of  144 
and  7-10  per  year.  From  1876  to  1885  the  whole  number  of 
baptisms  was  1,250,  or  an  average  of  125  per  year.  But 
for  the  last  half  of  the  last  decade  they  were  only  480,  or 


236 


HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 


an  average  of  96  per  year.  If  the  spirit  of  giving  and  the 
reaping  of  spiritual  results  sustain  to  each  other,  as  is 
'generally  supposed,  the  relation  of  cause  and  effect  in  any 
measure  we  may  begin  to  look  for  an  increase  of  prosper- 
ity in  this  Association.  During  the  last  half  of  the  last 
decade  the  contributions  for  the  Convention  were  an 
average  of  $323.70  per  year,  against  an  average  for  the 
whole  decade  of  only  $209.92^  per  year. 

The  year  1886  presents  a  good  measure  of  prosperitj^ 
One  hundred  and  forty-seven  have  been  baptized,  259 
added  from  all  sources,  and  there  are  now  2,172  members. 
Rev.  Richard  Garton,  D.  D.,  has  closed  his  12  years'  pas- 
torate at  AVaterloo  and  become  leader  of  the  forces  at 
Cedar  Rapids.  Rev.  D.  Read,  LL.  D.,  has  succeeded  him 
without  an  interval  at  Waterloo, 


G^  t^r'. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


The   Bedfort)   Association — 1856  to  1865 — A  Thrifty 

and   vigorolts   beginning  in   southwestern 

Iowa — Multiplying  and  Bearing 

Fruit — An  Inspiring 

History. 

^OT  least  among  the  vigorous  and  aggressive 
Baptist  Associations  in  Iowa  from  1856  to 
1865  is  to  be  recorded  the  Bedford  Association. 
In  1854  Rev.  James  M.  Smith  came  from  In- 
diana and  settled  at  Bedford,  Taylor  county, 
Iowa.  In  1855  there  was  reported  an  unassociated  Church 
at  Bedford,  with  J.  M.  Smith  pastor,  and  48  members. 

In  1856  the  Bedford  Association  was  constituted  with 
the  following  Churches  and  statistics:  Bedford,  J.  M.  Smith 
pastor,  57  members  ;  Bethel,  A.  Yanderpool,  24; 
Bethesda,  E.  H.  Pearce,  45 ;  Hawleyville,  J.  M. 
Smith,  19 ;  New  Garden,  A.  Vanderpool,  44  ;  Platte  Branch, 
V.  Night,  27;  Decatur  City,  I.  M.  Seay,  18  ;  Vernal,  I.  M. 
Seay,  97 ;  Salem,  V.  Night,  10 ;  making  9  Churches,  5  pas- 
tors, and  341  members.  The  New  Garden,  Bethel,  Vernal, 
and  Bethesda  Churches  were  found  a  3^ear  earlier  in  the 
Eden  Association.  In  1856  there  was  an  unassociated 
Church  in  Adams  county  and  one  at  Red  Oak  Grove. 
Rev.  J.  W.  Nye  was   pastor  of  both.      Neither  of  these 


1856. 


238  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

appear  in  subsequent  reports  for  several  years,  yet  they 
doubtless  mark  the  beginning  of  Baptist  work  in  Adams 
and  Montgomery  counties,  as  early  as  1856.  Rev.  I.  M. 
Seay  was  the  first  clerk  of  the  Bedford  Association.  The 
first  Anniversary  was  held  with  the  Vernal  Church  in  1857. 
This  was  in  Clark  county,  ten  miles  southwest  of  Osceola. 
Rev.  I.  M.  Seay  was  continued  as  secretaiy.  Four  new 
Churches  were  organized  during  the  year,  viz.  Freedom, 
near  Decatur  City,  with  10  members ;  Mt.  Ayr,  13 ;  West 
Union,  (Postoffice  Princeton,  Mo.)  30;  and  Winterset, 
Madison  county,  25.  Rev.  A,  W.  Russell  was  pastor  at 
Winterset,  D.  Ivens  at  Bedford,  Rev.  Thomas  Miller  at 
Decatur  City,  and  I.  M.  Seay  at  A'ernal.  Sixteen  baptisms 
were  reported,  and  446  members  in  13  Churches.  The 
annual  report  of  the  Convention  Board  for  1857  mentions 
Brother  Seay  as  its  Missionary  in  the  Bedford  Association, 
and  sa3^s,  "The  field  which  he  occupies  is  a  large  and  desti- 
tute region  in  the  southwestern  portion  of  the  state  "  "^' 
The  Association  was  formed  last  year,  and  the  Churches 
are  nearly  all  of  them  of  not  more  than  two  or  three  years' 
growth.''  Rev.  A.  W.  Russell  was  also  a  missionary  of 
the  Convention  at  Winterset,  his  appointment  dating  from 
the  first  of  June.  Thus,  although  the  Iowa  Baptist  State 
Convention  had  only  been  doing  independent  missionary 
work  about  two  years,  we  see  it  thrusting  its  beneficent 
efforts  forward  into  the  most  destitute  fields  and  the  re- 
motest parts  of  the  state. 

In  1858  the  Second  Anniversary  was  held  with  tlie 
Bethesda  Church,  southwest  of  Winterset,  in  Madison 
connty.  It  has  been  a  year  of  almost  unparal- 
leled  growth  and  successful  revival  work.  Seven 
new  Churches  have  been  organized  and  304  persons  bap- 
tized. The  new  Churches  are  Camden,  Clarinda,  Hayden 
Grove,  New  Salem,  Platte  Valley,  Mount  Olive  and  Xenia. 


OF    IOWA   BAPTISTS.  239 

Rev.  J.  M.  Smith,  at  Bedford,  reports  74  baptisms  and  146 
members.  Sixteen  of  the  20  Churches  report  baptisms, 
11  of  them  10  or  more.  Brother  Seay  reports  64  at  Vernal. 
He  has  labored  again  this  year  as  Missionary  and  Finan- 
cial Agent  of  the  Convention,  but  owing  to  infirm  health 
is  compelled  to  rest  from  labor  for  a  season,  and  the  Asso- 
ciation have  requested  the  appointment  of  another  brother 
to  be  named  by  them  to  fill  the  vacancy.  Rev.  A.  W, 
Russell,  in  a  note  to  the  Convention,  says,  "Many  of  the 
Churches  that  have  hitherto  received  aid  from  the  Con- 
vention have  become  self-sustaining.  Among  these  is  the 
Winterset  Church,  who,  in  addition  to  sustaining  their 
pastor,  are  building  a  commodious  house  of  worship. 
They  acknowledge  their  indebtedness  to  the  Convention 
and  hope  soon  to  be  able  to  repay  many  fold."  The 
Winterset  Church  have  since,  many  times,  redeemed  the 
pledge.  Rev.  J.  Woodward  is  pastor  of  the  1st  Leon 
Church,  his  post  office,  Canesville,  Missouri.  Tlie  next 
year  we  find  the  same  name  at  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  and 
conclude  therefore  that  it  was  Rev.  Jonah  Woodward  who 
died,  at  an  honored  old  age  in  Illinois  a  very  few  years 
ago.  Revs.  J.  A.  Todd  and  D.  Ivens  are  pastors,  the  for- 
mer at  Camden,  and  the  latter  at  Platte  Branch  and  Platte 
Valley. 

Bedford  entertained  the  Association  in  1859.  Rev.  I. 
M.  Seay  is  still  corresponding  secretary.  The  Church  at 
Winterset  transfers  its  associational  connection 
to  the  Western  Iowa  Association,  just  organized. 
The  1st  Church,  Adams  county,  and  the  West  Nodaway 
Valley  Church  are  received,  making  now  21  Churches, 
with  6  pastors,  reporting  1B6  baptisms,  218^additions,  and 
910  members.  Rev.  E.  W.  Hall  is  pastor  at  Clarinda  and 
Hayden  Grove,  P.  Andrews  at  Mount  Ayr,  and  J.  Lambert 
at    Platte    Valley.      Rev.   J.    M.    Smith   was    appointed 


240  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

missionary  of  the  Convention  at  a  salary  of  S-iOO,  to  be 
raised  on  the  field.  He  reports,  in  connection  with  his 
labors,  52  persons  baptized  and  69  added  by  letter  and 
experience,  two  new  Churches  organized  and  two  minis- 
ters ordained.  He  has  preached  in  ten  counties  in  south- 
western Iowa.  Rev.  Joshua  Currier,  a  visitor  to  the  Asso- 
ciation, writes  to  the  State  Convention,  in  1859:  "The 
Christian  activities  of  this  Association  the  past  year  have 
been  peculiarly  successful.  From  a  small  beginning  three 
years  since,  it  has  become  a  large  and  efficient  bod}^  A 
missionary  was  employed  through  the  year,  whose  labors 
were  abundantly  blessed  in  the  conversion  of  souls,  their 
addition  to  the  Churches,  and  in  constituting  new 
Churches."  Remarkable  liberality  was  shown  in  benevo- 
lent contributions,  especially  in  pledges  and  contributions 
to  sustain  a  missionary  another  j^ear. 

Met  at  Leon.  Rev.  E.  W.  Hall,  of  Bedford,  was  clerk. 
"The  reports  from  the  Churches  exhibited  the  fact  that 
the  revivals  of  the  previous  year  were  not  ficti- 
tious,  and  also  that  the  Redeemer's  Kingdom  was 
still  advancing  in  our  midst."  Eight  Churches  "  were 
visited  with  special  revivals  and  received  tokens  of  Divine 
favor."  Five  new  Churches  were  received  at  this  session. 
One  hundred  and  seventy-four  baptisms  were  reported,  300 
added  from  all  sources,  and  the  membership  1,116. 

In  1861  the  meeting  was  at  the  Camden  Church,  E.  W. 
Hall,  clerk.  Twelve  pastors  now  dispense  the  Word.  Rev. 
Edward  Otis,  C.  Bullock,  P.  Doty,  S.  HoUen,  J.  L.  Cole,  G. 
Elmore  and  J.  Evans  have  not  been  named  before.  Rev. 
James  M.  Smith  is  still  greatly  blessed  as  missionary  of 
the  Association  and  Convention,  though  the  cause  is  suf- 
fering from  the  unfavorable  influences  of  the  rebellion  in 
the  south. 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  241 

Met  in  1862  with  the  AVest  Nodaway  Valley  Church, 

in  Page  county.     New  pastors  are  Revs.  F.  Edwards,  J. 

T.   Mercer,   A.    Stanley   and    S.  White.      There 

seems   to  have  been  but  little  revival,    though 

the  meeting  was  an  occasion  of  "rich  spiritual  enjoyment." 

In  1863  the  Association  met  at  Lewis,  Cass  county, 
where  a  Church  was  organized  in  1860  and  has  now  51 
members.  James  W.  Brown,  of  Lewis,  was  clerk.  In  a 
report  to  the  Convention,  Rev.  I.  M.  Seay  says,  "Many  of 
the  Churches  are  in  a  very  low  state  and  without  pastors, 
yet  we  have  occasion  to  thank  God  and  take  courage,  for 
some  have  been  blessed  with  precious  revivals,  in  which 
souls  have  been  converted  and  added  to  them  through  the 
instrumentalitj"  of  our  missionar}^"  Rev.  S.  E.  Baldwin 
and  C.  C.  Baird  are  added  to  the  list  of  pastors.  There  is 
a  Church  at  Sidney  with  42  members  but  no  pastor.  Of 
the  29  Churches  in  this  Association  only  three  are  yet  ten 
years  old.  Occup^dng  a  territory  of  not  less  than  ten 
counties,  and  having  had  at  one  time  over  1,000  members, 
Where  can  ten  years  of  more  inspiring  history  be  found ''( 
The  surviving  pioneers  of  that  period  must  look  back  upon 
it  with  feelings  somewhat  like  those  of  the  inspired 
Psalmist,  when  he  sung  "I  will  remember  thee  from  the 
land  of  Jordan  and  the  Hermonites,  from  the  Hill  Mizar." 

The  Bedford  Association  met  in  1864  with  the  Bethesda 

Church.      J.  H.  Miller  was  clerk.      In  October,  1863,  the 

Southwestern  Iowa  Association  had  been  formed 

1  R  RZL 

which,  in  a  year  or  two,  will  absorb  into  itself 
largely  the  vital  energies  of  the  body  we  are  now  sketch- 
ing. The  days  of  the  Bedford  Association,  as  an  organiza- 
tion with  that  name,  are  fast  being  numbered,  but  it  has 
made  an  undying  record,  and  has  much  vitality  yet  to  be 
merged  in  other  organizations.       There  are  yet,  in  1864,  22 


242 


HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES. 


Churches  and  770  members.  Rev.  S.  E.  Baldwin,  mission- 
ary of  the  Convention  in  this  Association,  has  baptized  52 
persons,  and  reports  that  107  have  been  added  to  tlie 
Churches  in  connection  with  his  mission. 

In  1865  the  Bedford  Association  met  with  the  Grand 
River  Church,  in  Decatur  county,  where  its  name  was 
clianged  to  that  of  the  East  Grand  River  Association,  As 
the  Southwestern  Association  has  already  absorbed  the 
Cliurches  in  five  county  seats,  viz:  Bedford,  Clarinda, 
Lewis,  Red  Oak  and  Sidney,  and  as  its  history  seems  to  be 
the  logical  continuation  of  that  of  the  Bedford  Association 
which  formerly  occupied  the  whole  southwest  part  of  the 
State,  we  drop  here  the  history  of  this  body  and  take  up, 
in  the  next  chapter,  that  of  the  Soutlnvestern  Association; 
reserving  the  East  Grand  River  Association  for  a  subse- 
quent sketch. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 


0 


Southwestern  Iowa   Baptist  Association — The  Logi- 
cal Continuance  on  its  Territory  of  the 
Bedford  Association — 1863  to  1886. 

F^?5>5^t^N  Friday  October  23,  1863,  a  council  of  dele- 
ig^j^^gl  gates  from  several  Churches  convened  with 
the  Baptist  Church  at  Sidney,  Fremont 
county,  Iowa,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a 
new  Association.  An  introductory  sermon 
was  preached  by  Elder  R.  Alexander  of  West 
Union  Association,  Missouri,  from  1st  John  111:2.  Rev.  I. 
M.  Seay  was  chosen  Moderator  and  Rev.  C.  C.  Baird  clerk, 
protem.  The  same  ofhcers  were  continued  in  the  perma- 
nent organization.  Letters  were  presented  from  the  Churches 
at  Sidney,  with  40  members  ;  Nodaway,  56  ;  Clarinda,  38 ; 
Lewis,  53 ;  and  Milford,  23.  Also  from  Glenwood  with  30 
members,  Big  Grove  26  and  Silver  Creek  22.  Glenwood 
and  Silver  Creek  seem  to  be  new  organizations.  The  others 
are  all  from  the  Bedford  Association.  A  Constitution  and 
By-Laws  were  adopted,  and  thus  was  organized  the  South- 
western Iowa  Baptist  Association  with  8  Churches,  4  pas- 
tors, and  288  members.  The  pastors  were  E.  W.  Hall,  Big 
Grove,  I.  M.  Seay,  Clarinda,  A.  Martin,  Glenwood,  and  C. 
C.  Baird,  Lewis. 


244  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

The  Association  met  for  its  first  anniversary  with  the 
Church  at  Clarinda,  Page  county,  in  1864  on  Friday  before 
the  second  Sabbath  in  September.  The  intro- 
ductory sermon  was  preached  by  Elder  I.  M. 
Seay  from  Deut.  1:30.  Brother  Seay  was  elected  Modera- 
tor and  James  W-  Brown  clerk.  The  Bedford  church  with 
79  members,  Platte  Branch  12,  and  Red  Oak  12,  presented 
letters  and  were  received.  There  are  now  11  churches,  85 
baptisms  reported,  and  497  members.  A  Missionary  Board 
was  appointed  and  Rev.  J.  C.  Otis  elected  Missionary  of 
the  Association.  Though  beginning  missionary  work  in  its 
own  name  and  under  direction  of  its  own  Board,  there  is 
hearty  sympathy  with  other  missionary  organizations. 
Collections  were  taken  at  this  first  anniversary  for  the 
Foreign  and  Home  Mission  Societies,  and  for  the  State 
Convention.  During  the  year  27  have  been  baptized  at 
Lewis,  19  at  Milford,  and  32  at  Sidney.  Rev.  C.  C.  Baird 
is  pastor  at  Lewis  and  Milford,  I.  M.  Seay  at  Sidney,  Bed- 
ford and  Clarinda,  J.  A.  Martin  at  Silver  Creek  and  J. 
Lambert  at  Platte  Branch. 

In  1865,  the  Association  convened  with  the  Milford 
Church,  Montgomery  county.  Sermon  by  Rev  J.  C.  Ren- 
^  P„p,  fro.  I.  M.  Seay  Moderator,  James  W.  Brown 
clerk.  The  Nishnabotana  Church  was  received. 
The  churches  in  this  vicinity  are  suft^ering  from  their  prox- 
imity to  the  late  Rebellion,  and  the  consequent  distraction 
of  the  public  mind,  nevertheless  there  has  been  some  revi- 
val, and  71  baptisms  are  reported.  Rev.  J.  C.  Otis,  the 
Missionary  of  the  Association,  who  is  also  commissioned  by 
the  State  Convention,  has  been  very  successful.  He  has 
held  eleven  protracted  meetings,  baptized  60  persons,  and 
received  into  the  churches  53  by  letter  and  experience.  At 
the  meeting  in  1865  a  "Board  of  Conference  and  Solicitors" 
was  appointed  for  the  "South  Western  Iowa  Seminary." 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  245 

The  anniversary  in  1866  was  at  Sidney.  Introductory 
sermon  by  Rev.  J.  C.  Otis  from  Luke  XV:10.  Officers  the 
same  as  last  year.  The  Tabor  and  Providence  Churches 
were  received,  Tabor  14  members,  Providence  6.  The  Mis- 
sionary of  the  Association  and  Convention  this  year  was 
Rev.  I.  M.  Seay,  who  labored  nine  months  and  resigned 
on  account  of  failing  health.  The  annual  report  of  the 
Convention  Board  says:  -'In  no  part  of  the  State  are  there 
more  earnest  and  noble  missionary  spirits  than  in  that 
body.  In  co-operation  with  the  Convention  they  did  not 
only  as  we  had  expected,  but  went  far  be3^ond,  and  gave 
most  liberal  contributions  into  your  treasury.  You  will 
be  ready  to  help  them  when  they  shall  ask  again. "  In  ad- 
dition to  $350  paid  to  Brother  Seay,  $130  were  paid  into  the 
general  treasury.  Mention  is  made  elsewhere  of  a  mission- 
ary meeting  at  Glenwood  during  this  year  under  review,  in 
which,  in  a  single  collection  $74.20  were  contributed.  It 
was  decided  not  to  assume  control  of  the  "South  Western 
Seminary,"  but  Sidney  was  endorsed  as  a  suitable  place 
for  such  an  institution.  These  resolutions  reveal  the  deep 
interest  felt  in  educational  matters,  though  the  institution 
never  materialized. 

The  meeting  in  1867  was  at  Bedford,  sermon  by  Rev. 
R.  R.  Hanley,  Moderator  and  clerk  the  same  as  the  last 
two  years.  The  Middle  Valley  Church  was  re- 
ceived. There  are  now  14  Churches,  11  ordained 
ministers,  81  baptisms  reported,  and  777  members.  Rev, 
Wm.  F.  Arnold  has  been  employed  as  Missionary  Colpor- 
teur, by  the  Association  in  cooperation  with  the  American 
Baptist  Publication  Society,  and  the  work  is  reported  as 
very  satisfactory.  In  1868  the  annual  meeting  was  at 
Glenwood.  Rev.  T.  F.  Thickstun  preached  the  sermon. 
Rev.  J.  C.  Otis  Moderator,  James  W.  Brown  clerk.  Four 
new   Churches    received.      Council    Bluffs,   19    members; 


246  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Harlan,  26  ;  Buclianan,  26 ;  and  Bartlett,  14.  The  ordained 
ministers,  most  of  tliem,  probably  pastors,  are  Revs.  J.  C. 
Otis,  Glenwood;  C.  C.  Baird,  Bedford;  Wm.  F.  Arnold 
and  R.  R.  Hanley,  Tabor;  I.  M.  Seay  and  S.  E.  Baldwin, 
Sidney ;  B.  S.  F.  Cake  and  Silas  AVhite,  Clarinda ;  T.  F. 
Thickstun,  Council  Bluffs  ;  James  Lambert  and  A.  Blanken- 
ship,  Harlan  ;  P.  Andrews,  Quincy ;  M.  F.  Williams, 
Hamburg ;  James  Morris,  Lewis ;  John  Evans,  Bedford ; 
and  J.  A.  Martin  and  C.  L.  West,  Glenwood.  The  beauti- 
ful edifice  of  the  Glenwood  Church  was  dedicated  on  the 
Sabbath  during  this  Association,  Rev.  G.  J.  Johnson 
preaching  the  sermon.  A  committee  of  seven  brethren  were 
appointed  to  work  together  for  the  organization  and  estab- 
lishment of  a  Baptist  Church  in  Hamburg. 

In  1879  the  Association  met  at  Sidnej^  Rev.  C.  C. 
Baird  preached  from  Gallatians  vi:   1.     Rev.  J.   C.   Otis, 

Moderator,    C.    M.    Robins,    of    Harlan,    clerk. 

1869 

The  Atlantic  church  w^as  received  with  11  mem- 
bers, Hamburg  46,  and  Shiloh  14.  Rev.  James  M.  Smith, 
who,  about  1864  had  removed  to  Indiana,  has  returned  and 
settled  at  Bedford.  The  Glenw^ood,  Bedford  and  Sidney 
Churches  now  number  over  100  each,  Lewas  86  and  Harlan 
66.  None  others  above  50.  Council  Bluff's  has  46  mem- 
bers. Brother  Thickstun  and  his  family  have  begun  a 
heroic  effort  to  establish  a  Baptist  Church  in  that  city. 
Rev.  J.  W.  Roe  is  preaching  at  Sidney. 

The  Seventh  Anniversary  was  held  at  Lewis,  in  1870. 
Rev.  J.  W.  Roe  preached  the  sermon.  Moderator,  Rev. 
J.  M.  Smith;  clerk,  L.  Bentley,  of  Sidney.  The  Yillisca, 
Sciola,  and  Tarkio  Churches  were  received.  A  number  of 
churches  were  struggling  to  build  houses.  Rev.  J.  W. 
Roe  had  labored  six  months  as  missionary,  and  had  bap- 
tized 108  persons.     At  the  middle  of  the  year  the  Board 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  247 

released  him  at  the  earnest  request  of  the  Sidney  Church 
to  become  their  pastor.  A  great  advance  has  been  made. 
The  Bedford  Church  now  numbers  204  and  there  are  in  the 
Association  22  churches,  10  pastors,  183  baptisms  reported, 
and  1,166  members. 

The  next  meeting  was  at  Red  Oak.  Brother  Currier, 
who  was  to  preach  the  sermon,  not  being  able  his  place 
was  filled  by  Rev.  T.  F.  Thickstun.  J.  C.  Otis, 
Moderator,  Rev.  C.  Brooks,  Grant  post  office, 
clerk.  The  Shenandoah,  Pleasant  Grove,  Lacy  Grove  and 
Civil  Bend  Churches  were  received.  Another  year  of 
almost  phenomenal  growth.  Baptized  226,  added  in  all 
447,  and  members  1,451.  Pleasant  Grove  reports  48  bap- 
tisms; Sidney  66;  Clarinda  20;  Glenwood  16,  and  Civil 
Bend  and  Council  Bluffs  15  each.  Nineteen  of  the  26 
Churches  report  baptisms.  Rev.  B.  H.  Brasted  is  preach- 
ing at  Atlantic  and  Lewis,  Rev.  W.  P.  Pattison  at  Red 
Oak,  and  J.  W.  Roe  at  Villisca. 

In  1872  the  Association  assembled  at  Villisca.  Sermon 
by  Rev.  J.  C.  Otis  from  2d.  Corinthians  X:45.  Rev.  W.  P. 
Pattison  Moderator,  G.  W.  .Gunnison  of  Shenan- 
doah clerk.  Memor}^,  Page  county,  Riverton  in 
Fremont,  Newlon's  Grove  in  Cass,  and  Malvern  in  Mills 
counties,  were  new  churches  received.  Churches  30,  pas- 
tors 9,  baptisms  160,  members  1590.  Resolutions  were 
adopted  favoring  a  Baptist  Academy  for  the  Western  Slope 
and  encouraging  Rev.  A.  Robbins  in  his  effort  to  establish 
the  Baptist  Beacon  for  Iowa.  In  1873  the  Association  met 
at  Hamburg.  Annual  sermon  by  Rev.  James  M.  Smith, 
who  was  made  Moderator  and  Rev.  G.  W.  Gunnison  clerk. 
Rev.  Arthur  Stott  is  preaching  at  Atlantic.  G.  W.  Robey 
at  Hamburg,  J.  R.  Shanafelt  at  Red  Oak  and  Malvern,  E. 
G.  0.  Groat  at  Harlan  and  Avoca,  W.  J.  Gates  at  Liberty, 


248  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

C.  L.  Butts  at  Fremont,   L.  H.  Thompson  at  Percival,  W. 

C.  Cnnningham  at  Pleasant  Grove,  E.  Burch  at  Big  Grove, 

D.  C.  Ellis  at  Carbon;  and  last  year,  W.  A.  Cain  at  Mal- 
vern, J.  Lambert  at  Harlan,  T.  Muxlow  at  Riverton  and 
Sidney,  and  R.  R.  Hanley  at  Milford.  There  were  193  bap- 
tisms reported  and  1654  members.  The  Nodaway  Church 
has  disbanded.  Rev.  J.  C.  Otis  of  Glenwood  is  overworked, 
and  is  given  a  three  months  furlough.  Rev.  T.  F.  Thick- 
stun  of  Council  Bluffs  resigns  and  becomes  Secretary  of  the 
State  Convention. 

In  1874  the  eleventh  anniversary  was  held  with  the 
Bedford  Church.  Rev.  G.  W.  Robey  preached  from  John 
11:17,  "The  zeal  for  thy  house  consumes  me." 
^^^^-  (Bible  Union  Aversion.)  Rev.  J.  M..  Smith 
Moderator,  G.  W.  Robey  clerk.  The  Atlantic,  Big  Grove, 
Harlan,  and  Newlon's  Grove  churches  have  united  in 
forming  the  Prairie  Association,  and  cease  their  connection 
with  this  body.  A  committee  report  in  favor  of  "a  new 
Association  from  the  eastern  part  of  the  Southwestern,  and 
the  western  part  of  the  East  Grand  River  Associations." 
There  are  yet  in  this  Association  94  churches,  14  pastors, 
209  baptisms  are  reported,  and  1602  members.  Rev.  Wm. 
Tilley  is  pastor  at  Bedford,  E.  C.  Cady  at  Glenwood,  J.  W. 
Roe  at  Malvern,  Amos  Pratt  at  Shenandoah,  W.  A.  Dor- 
ward  at  Milford  and  Sciola,  and  D.  C.  Ellis  at  Carbon  near 
Quincy.  Rev.  R.  R.  Hanley  has  been  holding  the  fort  at 
Tabor  for  several  years.  Rev.  J.  C.  Otis  is  still  living  at 
Glenwood  but  very  feeble.  In  1875  the  Association  met 
with  the  Percival  Church.  Sermon  by  Rev.  Amos  Pratt, 
who  was  elected  Moderator  and  W.  S.  Goodell  of  Emerson 
clerk.  206  baptisms  were  reported,  and  1730  members. 
Rev.  T.  J.  Arnold  of  Plattesmouth,  Nebraska,  has  labored 
successfully  a  part  of  the  year  as  Missionary  of  the 
Association. 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  249 

The  Thirteenth  Anniversary  was  held  in  1876  witli  the 
Clarindn  chiiicli.  Rev.  D.C.Ellis  preached  the  sermon, 
Uev.  \V.  P.  Pattison,  Moderator,  W.  S.  Goodell, 
clerk.  To  this  occasion  belonged  tlie  sad,  and 
yet  not  unexpected  duty  of  recording  the  death  of  the 
greatly  beloved,  Rev.  J.  C.  Otis,  of  Glen  wood.  We  copy 
in  full  the  report  of  the  Obituary  Committee:  "  It,  is  the 
painful  duty  of  your  committee  to  report  an  unusual  num- 
ber of  deaths  during  the  past  .year,  many  of  whom  were 
most  faithful  workers  in  our  Zion.  Prominent  among 
those  who  have  fallen  asleep  in  Jesus,  is  our  beloved 
brother,  Rev.  J.  C.  Otis.  To  speak  that  name  is  to  use  a 
household  word  in  all  western  Iowa,  that  will  ever  stir 
the  hearts  of  the  thousands  that  knew  him  only  to  love 
him.  With  his  name  will  ever  be  associated  pleasant 
memories  of  happy  meetings  and  sad  partings.  His  was  a 
life  of  unremitting  toil  in  the  Master's  Kingdom,  inspiring 
us  all  to  noble  deeds.  His  death  was  a  triumph  awarded 
only  to  those  who  fall  with  the  armor  on."  As  recom- 
mended a  new  Association^ — the  East  Nodaway — has  been 
formed  to  the  east  of  this.  There  are  now  in  this  body  23 
churches,  7  pastors,  196  persons  baptized  during  the  year, 
and  1,653  members.  Malvern  has  become  the  largest 
church,  with  210  members,  45  baptized  during  the  year. 

In  1877  the  Fourteenth  Anniversary  assembled  at 
Emerson.  Rev.  J.  H.  Pratt,  pastor.  Sermon  ^by  Rev.  L. 
E.  Martin,  of  Hamburg,  Rev.  W.  P.  Pattison, 
^^^^-  Moderator,  H.  C.  French,  of  Red  Oak,  clerk. 
The  Essex,  Fairview  and  Clarinda  (Colored)  Churches 
were  received.  Rev.  J.  W.  Roe,  of  Malvern,  died  i:  Octo- 
ber, 1876.  He  was  chairman  of  the  committee  that  made 
the  excellent  report  of  Rev.  J.  C.  Otis,  given  above.  So 
soon  has  he  been  called  to  follow.  A  full  notice  of  him 
will  be  found  in  "Obituary  Notes.*'    The  decease  is  also 


250  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

mentioned  of  Sister  Woodrow,  of  the  Grienwood  church. 
She  and  her  sister,  Mrs.  J.  V.  Hinchman,  are  remembered 
as  bearing  almost  alone,  for  years,  tiie  burden  of  keeping- 
life  in  the  Glenwood  Church,  when  the  present  writer  first 
knew  them,  and  tlie  Church;  and  right  nobly  did  they 
stand  by  their  colors  till  the  victory  came.  The  Council 
Bluffs  Church,  in  1875,  united  with  the  new  Associa- 
tion called  the  Prairie  Association,  afterwards  the  "  Coun- 
cil Bluffs."  Rev.  O.  T.  Conger  has  taken  the  place  of  the 
lamented  Roe,  as  pastor  at  Malvern.  Rev.  S.  C.  Sale  is  at 
Glenwood.  Rev.  C.  Tilbury  is  preaching  at  Clarinda  and 
Amity  and  Rev.  John  Davies  at  Riverton. 

The  annual  meeting  in  1878  was  at  Riverton,  sermon  by 
Rev.  S.  C.  Sale,  W.  P.  Pattison  Moderator,  H.  C.  French 
clerk.  Rev.  H.  B.  Foskett  has  become  pastor 
at  Shenandoah  and  Essex,  and  A.  V.  Bloodgood 
at  Red  Oak.  There  are  25  churches,  11  pastors,  197  bap- 
tisms are  reported,  and  1687  members.  In  1879,  met  at 
Glenwood.  Introductory  sermon  by  H.  B.  Foskett,  text, 
1st  Thessalonians  11:4.  Rev.  J.  H.  Pratt  Moderator,  H.  C. 
French  clerk.  The  Carbon  church  has  united  with  the 
East  Nodaway  Association.  Rev.  T.  F.  Borchers  has  suc- 
ceeded S.  C.  Sale  at  Glenwood,  after  an  interval  of  nearly 
a  year.  Rev.  J.  B.  Edmonson  is  preaching  at  Riverton, 
and  Rev.  John  Barr  at  Villisca  and  Sciola.  The  wife  of 
Rev.  L.  M.  Newell,  late  pastor  at  Yillisca,  died  during  the 
year.  Rev.  George  Weavers  is  preaching  at  Civil  Bend  and 
Lacy  Grove.  Four  pastors  are  on  their  third  year  on  their 
present  fields,  two  on  the  second  and  eight  on  the  first. 

In  1880  the  seventeenth  anniversary  was  held  with  the 

church  at  Hamburg,  Rev.  J.  H.  Pratt  preached  the  sermon. 

opn       Text,  2d.  Kings  11:10,  "Thou  hast  asked  a   hard 

thing."     H.   B.  Foskett  Moderator,  H.  C.  French 

clerk.     Rev.  H.  B.  Foskett,  Jr.  has  been  preaching  at  Clar- 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  251 

inda  three  months,  but  has  returned  to  his  studies  at  Mor- 
gan Park.  Rev.  F.  W.  Parsons  has  settled  at  Glenwood„ 
Rev.  T.  F.  Borchers  was  not  able  to  continue  there  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health.  Rev.  F.  Hill  is  pastor  at  Hamburg. 
Rev.  O.  T.  Conger  has  resigned  at  Malvern  and  Rev.  A.  H. 
Rhodes  is  pastor  there,  and  Rev.  E.  P.  Savage  at  Red 
Oak,  Brother  Bloodgood  having  removed  from  there. 
Shenandoah  have  had  to  give  up  their  place  of  worship, 
leaving  them  but  one  alternative,  to  build  or  disband. 
They  resolved  to  build,  and  have  a  house  nearly  com- 
pleted which  will  cost  $3,000. 

Malvern  entertained  the  Association  in  1881.  Rev.  F. 
W.  Parsons  is  preacher,  F.  Hill  Moderator,  H.  C.  French 
1881  <^l®i"l^-  ^^v-  ^-  ^-  Cloyd  is  preaching  at  Clarin- 
da,  A.  W.  Webb  at  Coin,  P.  M.  Best  at  Sidney 
and  Lacy  Grove,  and  F.  N.  Eldridge  at  Shenandoah.  Rev. 
H.  B.  Foskett  is  supplying  Rivertonin  connection  with  Es- 
sex. Rev.  T.  M.  Coffey  has  been  preaching  at  Silver  City 
since  1880,  and  Rev.  W.  K.  Miller  at  Villisca.  The  church 
at  Coin  is  called  Bethel  in  the  digest  of  letters.  It  was  or- 
ganized Nov.  29,  1880,  as  a  result  of  meetings  held  by  Rev. 
J.  W.  Thompson,  was  recognized  and  pastor  Webb  ordain- 
ed since,  and  admitted  to  the  Association  in  1881.  The 
Ingraham  Church  organized  in  1876  has  been  changed  to 
Silver  City.  Rev.  J.  H.  Pratt  has  resigned  at  Emerson, 
after  a  successful  service  of  four  years.  He  and  his  fam- 
ily are  greatly  missed. 

In  1882  the  Association  met  at  Shenandoah.     Rev.  J. 

C.  H.   Reed   has  settled   at   Emerson,  and   preached  the 

introductory  sermon.     H.  B.  Foskett,  Moderator, 

J.  S.  Frazee,  of    Glenwood,   clerk.      Rev.   C.  T. 

Tucker  has  begun  work  at  Clarinda,  Rev.  J.  C.  Foster  is 

pastor  of  the  Colored  Church,  where  Rev.   J.  A.   Baker 


252  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

had  been  since  1878.  Rev.  H.  B.  Foskett,  Jr.,  was  ordained 
pastor  at  Red  Oak,  July  11,  1882.  Rev.  E.  G.  Trask  is 
preaching  at  Silver  City.  Sidney  report  36  baptized. 
Brother  Best  having  resigned  Rev.  R.  R.  Hanley  is  kindly 
supplying.  Nineteen  have  been  baptized  at  Malvern, 
Rev.  A.  H.  Rhodes  still  pastor,  and  13  at  Hamburg.     Rev. 

F.  Hill  has  resigned,  and  goes  to  Grand  Junction. 

In  1883  the  Twentieth  Anniversary  was  at  Red  Oak. 
Sermon  by  Rev.  A.  H.  Rhodes,  Rev.  C.  T.  Tucker,  Moder- 
ator, W.  S.  Goodell,  clerk.  The  total  membership  is  1,335; 
a  falling  off  from  last  year  of  102.  This  is  probably  in 
part  owing  to  a  cutting  off  of  dead  branches.  Rev.  J.  F. 
Leek  is  preaching  at  Bethel,  Rev.  D.  F.  Beebe  at  Hamburg, 
and  O.  T.  Conger,  D.  D.,  at  Shenandoah.  Brother  Conger 
returns  to  this  field  after  an  absence  of  three  years. 

The  meeting  in  1884  was  at  Emerson.  Brother  C.  T. 
Tucker  preached  the  sermon,  F.  W.  Parsons  Moderator, 
W.  S.  Goodell  clerk.  There  are  more  evidences 
of  revival  than  for  several  years;  142  have  been 
baptized,  and  there  is  a  net  gain  in  membership  of  130 
with  no  new  organizations.  Shenandoah  have  baptized  25, 
Silver  City  23,  and  Emerson  and  Malvern   each   18.      Rev. 

G.  W.  Robey  is  pastor  at  Malvern,  A.  H.  Rhodes  has  re- 
moved to  Sidney.  The  meeting  in  1885  was  at  Silver  City. 
Brother  Robey  preached  the  annual  sermon.  The  1st 
Baptist  Church  at  Council  Bluff's,  and  the  Scandinavian 
Church  of  the  same  city,  were  received  into  the  body.  Al- 
so the  Lone  Willow  Church  of  Fremont  county.  Owing  to 
serious  and  seemingly  insurmountable  difficulties  the  old 
1st  Baptist  Church  in  Council  Bluffs  disbanded,  first 
transferring  their  fine  propert}^  to  the  Home  Mission  Soci- 
ety, and  the  present  organization  was  formed,  received  the 
property,  and  now  reports   91  members.     Rev.   D.  H.  Coo- 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  253 

ley,  D.  1).,  is  pastor.  Rev.  H.  A.  Reichenback  is  pastor  of 
the  Scandinavian  Church,  and  they  have  57  members. 
The}^  are  building  a  commodious  house  of  worship,  and 
give  evidence  of  a  healthy  life.  The  old  missionary,  I.  M. 
Seay  is  pastor  of  the  new  Lone  Willow  Church  with  11 
members.  Rev.  J.  L.  Shoemaker  is  pastor  at  Shenandoah, 
and  Gilman  Parker  at  Emerson,  beginning  in  the  fall  of 
1884.  Baptisms  142,  members  1521,  in  22  churches  with  12 
pastors. 

In  1886  the  Association  met  at  Sidney.  Another  pros- 
perous year ;  234  baptisms  reported,  members  1798.  This 
is  a  net  gain  for  the  year  of  277.  D.  S.  Dodd  is 
pastor  at  Bethlehem,  A.  Jacobs  at  Cireenfield,  P. 
M.  Wadley  at  Hamburg  and  Mount  Olive,  N.  M.  Allen  at 
Pleasant  Valley,  I.  W.  Edson  at  Red  Oak,  and  John  Barr 
at  Villisca.  Others  as  before  noted.  Brother  Rhodes  has 
resigned  at  Sidney,  and  probably  A.  Jacobs  at  Greenfield. 
Elder  Graham  is  pastor  at  Riverton.  Of  the  234  baptisms 
in  1886,  Council  Bluffs  reports  27;  Glenwood  55;  Green- 
field 39;  Shenandoah  39;  Percival  16;  Pleasant  Valley  14; 
Bethlehem  13;  Sidney  9,  and  Emerson  8.  This  is  a  grati- 
fying evidence  of  a  general  revival  spirit.  Probab.y  no 
part  of  the  State  has  shared  more  largely  in  the  displays 
of  saving  grace. 

The  Southwestern  Association  is,  at  the  time  this  his- 
tory closes,  a  very  healthy  and  vigorous  body,  well 
manned  in  its  ministry  and  possessed  of  a  spirited  and 
aggressive  membership.  These  same  qualities  have  indeed 
marked  its  history  through  the  22  years  of  its  existence, 
and  were  projected  into  its  earliest  life  by  the  elements  of 
the  Bedford  Association,  which  occupied  the  ground  be- 
fore it.  Probably  few  Associations  in  the  west  have  had 
a  more  prosperous  career  during  the  last  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury.     The  Association  has  always  given  a  hearty  wel- 


254 


HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES. 


come  to  the  representatives  of  our  Denominational  Socie- 
ties and  this  welcome  has  attracted  to  its  anniversaries  to 
an  unusual  degree,  talent  and  inspiration  from  abroad. 
Its  records  also  show  a  home  talent  consecrated  to  these 
great  enterprises,  equaled  by  few  similar  bodies.  Com- 
ment upon  the  facts  just  mentioned,  in  their  connection 
with  what  was  said  of  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the 
body,  is  unnecessary. 


CHAPTER  XXYIII 


The     Linn    Association  —  Beginning     in     1857  —  The 

Lower  Cedar  Valley — Linn,    Benton,    Jones 

AND    Other    Counties  — 1857    to    1886. 

•UICKLY  following  the  formation  of  tlie  Cedar 
Yalle}"  and  Bedford  Associations  comes  the 
Linn.  This  Association  was  orp;anized  in 
1857,  at  Marion,  Rev.  J.  V.  Dewitt  was  its 
first  Moderator,  Rev.  R.  King,  clerk,  A. 
Chapin,  preacher,  and  N.  B.  Homan,  writer 
of  circnlar  letter.  The  Association  was  made  up  of  the 
following  churches:  Marion,  J.  V-  Dewitt,  pastor,  109 
members;  Linn  Grove,  N.  B.  Homan,  21;  Simmons  Creek, 
N.  B.  Homan,  21;  Fairview,  N.  B.  Homan,  43;  Harrison, 
R.  King,  9;  ShellsbUrg,  49;  Jordan's  Grove,  D.  Rowley,  17; 
Quasqueton,  J.  Woods,  25,  and  Kingston  (West  Cedar 
Rapids),  J.  Woodward,  52.  Nine  churches,  six  pastors 
and  346  members.  Rev.  Richard  King  was  laboring  at 
the  time  as  missionary  of  the  Iowa  Baptist  State  Conven- 
tion. The  annual  report  of  the  Board  for  1857  says, 
"Brother  King  has  labored  several  years  on  this  field 
amid  great  ditiiculty  and  destitution,  and  with  gratifying 
success.  His  field  is  one  of  great  importance,  situated  in 
the  heart  of  the  Cedar  Valley,  and  comprising  in  its  borders 
some  of  the  most  fertile  soil  in  the  State."     It  "must  soon 


256  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

become  densely  populated,  hence  the  importance  of  plant- 
ing here,  early,  the  seeds  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus." 

The  First  Anniversary  was  held  in  1858,  at  Shellsburg, 
Rev.  J.  Woodward  preached  the  sermon  and  was  Moder- 
ator, J.  Hays,  clerk.  The  Bear  Creek  Church, 
Wyoming  post  office,  Jones  county,  transferred 
its  connection  from  the  Dubuque  Association.  Four  newly 
organized  churches  were  received,  viz:  Anamosa,  with  9 
members;  Center  Point  12;  Parker's  Grove  27,  and  Palo 
19.  Rev.  R.  King  was  pastor  of  the  last  two  and  of  Shells- 
burg, Rev.  A.  G.  Firman  is  pastor  at  Quasqueton.  Rev. 
Jonah  Woodward  reports  29  baptized  at  Kingston.  Brother 
King  19  at  Shellsburg  and  Rev.  J.  V.  Dewitc  10  at  Marion. 
Seventy-one  have  been  baptized  in  all  and  the  membership 
is  496.  "  One  house  of  worship  completed  and  two  others 
in  process  of  erection.  Rev.  D.  Rowlej^  was  missionary  of 
the  convention  on  this  field,  at  a  salary  of  ii5300  to  be 
raised  in  the  Association.  He  reports  $327.80  raised. 
Brother  King  was  appointed  to  labor  in  Tama  and  Benton 
counties  but  before  entering  upon  his  labors  the  indications 
of  Providence  plainly  pointed  to  his  continuing  with  the 
churches  he  had  served  in  this  Association  where  his 
labors  were  greatly  blessed.  Rev.  H.  Holmes  also  labored 
under  appointment  of  the  Board  at  Bear  Creek  and  other 
points.  It  is  of  historic  interest  to  notice  the  convention 
rendering  a  helping  hand  in  the  Linn  Association,  where 
its  appeals  for  aid  have  always,  since,  met  with  a  ready 
and  generous  response. 

In  1859  the  annual  meeting  was  held  at  Fairview,  J. 

Hays  Moderator,  M.  B.  Allen  clerk,  D.  Rowley  preacher 

of    the  introductory   sermon.      The   Church    at 
1859 

Rogers'  Grove,  organized  in  1858,  was  received. 

Only  5  pastors  for  the  15  churches.     In  1860  met  at  Cedar 


OF    IOWA    BAl'TISTS.  257 

Rapids.  N.  B.  Homan  preached  the  sermon,  Rev.  A.  A. 
Sawin  Moderator,  J.  Crawford  clerk.  The  Kingston  Church 
has  o-iven  place  to  anew  organization  at  Cedar  Rapids,  the 
1st  Baptist  Church  of  Cedar  Rapids,  Rev.  A.  G.  Eberhart 
pastor,  with  36  members.  The  Prairie  Hill  Church,  Rev. 
James  Kay  pastor,  was  received,  and  the  Vinton  Church 
came  in  from  the  Cedar  Valley  Association,  A.  Chapin 
pastor.  There  are  now  18  churches,  9  pastors,  27  baptisms 
reported,  and  617  members.  Rev.  A.  A.  Sawin  has  become 
pastor  at  Marion,  and  Rev.  J.  B.  Peat  at  Rogers'  Grove, 
where  he  seems  to  have  been  ordained  about  this  time.  The 
Jordan's  Grove  Church  entertained  the  Association  in  1861, 
Rev.  A.  Chapin  Moderator,  C.  C.  Buell  clerk.  The  annual 
sermon  was  preached  by  Brother  King,  and  Rev.  J.  B. 
Peat  wrote  the  circular  letter. 

In   1862  met  at  Vinton.     Rev.  J.  B.  Peat  preached  the 
sermon,  N.  F.  Ravlin  Moderator,  A.  A.  Sawin  clerk.    Rev. 
„  N.  F.  Ravlin  is  pastor  at  Cedar  Rapids  and  they 

report  116  members.  Two  new  Chnrches  have 
been  organized,  Clinton,  IS.  B.  Homan  pastor,  and  Bell 
Prairie,  a  few  miles  west  of  Cedar  Rapids.  Jackson  Town- 
ship Church,  organized  in  1861,  was  received.  Rev.  J. 
Carrington  is  preaching  at  Fairview,  and  D.  S.  Starr  at 
Jackson  Township.  Rev.  J.  C.  Burkholder  is  preaching 
at  Quasqueton.  The  meeting  in  1863  was  at  Quasqneton, 
preacher  Rev.  James  Kay,  Moderator  N.  B.  Homan,  clerk 
N.  F.  Ravlin.  Rev.  J.  Fulton  of  Cedar  Valley  Association 
is  the  preacher  at  Quasqueton  and  J.  C.  Burkholder  now 
at  Rogers'  Grove.  Cedar  Rapids  reports  25  baptisms,  and 
Prairie  Hill,  where  Rev.  James  Kay  is  serving,  16,  while 
58  are  reported  in  all,  and  760  members.  In  the  annual  re- 
port cf  the  Convention  Board  for  1863  Brother  Childs,  the 
secretary,  said, ''The  days  in  which  our  lot  is  cast  are 
eventful.     The  nation  is  passing  through  a  fearful   strug- 


258  HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES 

s^le,  out  of  which,  under  the  sovereign  purposes  of  God, 
she  is  to  rise  to  a  higher  plain  of  political  and  national 
life." 

The  Association  in  1864  held  its  eighth  anniversary  at 
Rogers  Grrove.  Rev.  John  Fulton  preacher  and  Modera- 
tor, N.  B.  Homan  clerk.  "During  the  session  peace 
and  harmony  prevailed,  and  the  exercises  were 
marked  by  humble,  earnest  devotion."  The  membership 
has  been  much  reduced  by  the  war  and  by  removals. 
To  the  present  writer,  this  meeting  at  Rogers  Grove  in 
1864  is  a  cherished  recollection.  A  few  months  before  we 
had  met,  for  the  first  time,  at  his  own  home  in  Strawberry 
Point,  John  E.  Clough,  who,  with  his  accomplished  wife, 
was  seeking  an  appointment  as  missionary  to  the  Foreign 
field.  At  the  time  of  this  session  of  the  Linn  Association 
the  appointment  had  been  made,  and  Brother  Clough  was 
at  the  meeting,  preparing  for  and  looking  forward  to  their 
departure  later  in  the  fall.  His  presence  gave  an  abiding 
interest  to  all  that  pertained  to  this  session.  As  we  look 
back  to  it  now,  the  thought  comes  to  us,  ''In  that  rather 
spare,  unpretending,  and  in  no  way,  except  for  his  honest 
earnestness,  especially  striking  3^oung  man,  who  would 
have  seen  the  prophesy  of  the  most  renowned  missionary 
of  modern  tiniest"  Truly  ''It  is  the  Lord's  doing  and 
marvelous  in  our  eyes.  "  Rev.  N.  F.  Ravlin  has  been  suc- 
ceeded at  Cedar  Rapids  by  J.  Y.  Aitchison;  Rev.  G.  B. 
Bills  is  preaching  at  Marion,  and  Rev.  A.  Bardin  to  three 
of  the  country  churches.  In  1865  the  anniversary  was  at 
Marion.  Rev.  J.  Y.  Aitchison  preached  the  introductory 
sermon  and  was  chosen  to  preside.  Rev.  A.  H.  Harris, 
clerk.  Brother  Harris  had  taken  charge  of  the  Church  at 
Vinton,  but  died  November  26,  of  this  same  year,  at  only 
thirty-eight  years  of  age.  It  is  said  of  this  meeting  that 
"  the   Spirit  of  the  Master  was    present.     The  letters  did 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  259 

not  sliow  anj  large  increase  of  membership,  but  were  char- 
acterized by  unswerving  fidelity  to  the  truth." 

In  1866  Parker's  Grove  entertained  the  assembled  breth- 
ren. Rev.  Amos  Pratt  was  preacher  and  Moderator,  and 
-,  o(=jf-  H.  R.  Wilber  clerk.  Brother  Pratt  is  pastor 
at  Marion,  and  Brother  Wilber  at  Cedar  Rapids, 
Rev.  H.  Samson  at  Mount  Vernon,  J.  Z.  Zimmerman  at 
Jordan's  Grove  and  Roger's  Grove.  Brother  Fulton  reports 
27  baptized  at  Quasqueton,  Homan  22  at  Fairview,  Pratt 
21  at  Marion.  Also  there  were  8  at  Cedar  Rapids  and  ]  1 
at  Roger's  Grove.  There  are  now  18  churches,  8  pastors, 
107  baptisms  and  902  members.  This  is  the  first  year  that 
above  100  baptisms  have  been  reported.  Rev.  Charles 
Perkins  has  labored  as  Missionary  of  the  Convention  about 
ten  months.  The  amount  reported  from  the  Association  is 
$416.35.  The  anniversary  in  1867  was  at  Fairview.  Rev. 
John  Fulton  Moderator,  Rev.  H.  R.  Wilber  preached  the 
sermon  and  served  as  clerk.  Revivals  have  increased,  128 
have  been  baptized  and  230  added  in  all  ways-  Rev.  J. 
Sunderland  has  entered  this  field  as  pastor  at  Vinton. 
Rev.  G.  W.  Gates  has  succeeded  A.  Pratt  at  Marion,  and 
Rev.  M.  Hazen  is  preaching  at  Shellsburg  and  Parker's 
Grove.  Brother  King,  after  long  and  faithful  service  here 
has  removed  to  the  Burlington  Association  and  is  preach- 
ing at  New  London. 

In  1868  the  meeting  was  at  Shellsburg,  J.  Sunderland 
preacher  and  Moderator,  N.  B.  Homan,  clerk.  The  growth 
of  the  Linn  Association  had  for  the  first  8  or 
10  years  seemed  relatively  slow.  Now  it  is 
quite  marked,  not  so  much  for  increase  in  the  number 
of  its  churches,  but  in  the  development  of  existing  re- 
sources. 165  baptisms  are  reported  and  there  are  1,284 
members,   a   gain   of   213   over    last  year.       The  amount 


260  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

reported  for  Convention  work  was  ^741. 44.  Rev.  D.  H. 
Cooley  has  become  pastor  at  Cedar  Rapids,  and  reports  80 
baptisms  and  251  members.  The  wife  of  our  beloved 
brother,  H.  R.  Wilber,  has  been  removed  by  death  and  he 
has  returned  with  his  stricken  family  to  his  friends  in 
Massachusetts.  We  shall  miss  him  sadl}^  in  our  Iowa 
counsels.  A  brother  of  rare  excellence  was  Rev.  H.  R. 
Wilber.  He  was  the  son  of  Deacon  Wilber,  of  Boston. 
Rev.  M.  C.  Kempsey  is  pastor  at  Anamosa  and  Rev.  J.  V. 
Dewitt  is  occupying,  for  a  time  again,  his  old  place  at 
Marion.  The  Mechanicsville,  Monticello,  Springville,yiola, 
and  Missionar}^  Union  Churches  were  received. 

Annual  meeting  in  1869  at  Anamosa.    Rev.  I).  H.  Cooley 
preached   the  annual  sermon  and  was  Moderator,  I^lilton 

Remley,  Esq.,  clerk.  In  all  the  seven  years' 
1869 

work  of  the  writer  as  General  Agent  of  the  Con- 
vention, the  culmination  of  interest  and  success  in  taking 
a  collection  was  at  Anamosa  in  1869.  Rev.  Br.  Cleghorn, 
then  of  Illinois,  but  since  of  Northwestern  Iowa,  preached 
the  Sabbath  morning  sermon.  In  its  general  effect  it  is 
remembered  as  the  best  preparation  for  a  benevolent  ap- 
peal to  the  congregation  that  we  ever  witnessed,  though 
the  preacher  had  probabh'  no  thought  of  the  kind  in  its 
delivery.  The  agent  followed  the  sermon  as  had  been  ar- 
ranged with  a  brief  presentation  of  the  cause.  Rev.  M.  C. 
Kempsey  was  acting  pastor  of  the  Anamosa  Church.  As 
the  enthusiasm  in  responses  rose,  Brother  Kempsey  went 
into  the  congregation  and  announced  the  names  with  their 
pledges.  In  some  instances,  in  his  enthusiasm,  it  was  said 
he  did  not  get  the  consent  of  the  owner  of  the  name.  But 
the  agent  being  informed  of  this  took  the  necessary  pre- 
caution tliat  no  attempt  should  be  made  to  collect  any 
pledge  that  was  not  voluntary,  and  no  trouble  was 
known  by  him  to  grow  out  ot  it.     The  pledges  were  mostly 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  261 

in  life  memberships,  to  be  paid  in  $5.(H)  and  $10.00  install- 
ments, and  we  probably  hazzard  nothint;  in  the  opinion 
that  more  money  was  pledged  and  afterwards  paid  at  that 
meetino-  than  at  any  single  district  associational  meeting 
in  the  history  of  Iowa  Baptists  for  this  one  object.  Linn's 
report  of  money  paid  to  the  convention  in  1869  is  1670.58, 
and  the  church  at  Anamosa,  of  less  than  100  members,  is 
credited  in  this  and  the  next  three  years  (the  time  required 
to  pay  the  installments  on  a  life  membership),  with  $312. 
Rev.  S.  West  was  preaching  at  Jordan's  Grove.  J,  B.  Port- 
lock  at  Center  Point;  E.  S.  Edwards  at  Mechanicsvillje ; 
P.  P.  Shirley  at  Parker's  Grove  and  Shellsburg,  and  F. 
Kidder  at  Quasqueton. 

In  1870  Jordan's  Grove  entertained  the  brethren.  Rev. 
N.  B.  Homan  preached  the  sermon  and  presided,  J.  Sun- 
deiiand  clerk.  Rev.  Robert  Leslie  has  settled  at 
Anamosa,  J.  L.  Coppoc  is  preaching  at  Center 
Point,  J.  S.  Ward  at  Jackson  Township,  J.  A.  Abbott  at 
Prairieburg,  J.  Cauch  at  Quasqueton,  and  J.  W.  Thomp- 
son at  Shellsburg.  Brother  Cooley  is  still  preaching  at 
Cedar  Rapids.  He  has  baptized  48  this  year,  and  147  in 
three  years  on  this  field  ;  155  have  been  baptized  this  year 
in  the  Association,  and  the  membership  in  20  churches  is 
1407.  The  meeting  in  1871  was  at  Cedar  Rapids,  P.  P. 
Shirley  Moderator,  A.  St.  Clair  Smith  clerk.  Rev.  J.  W. 
Thompson  preached  the  annual  sermon.  Four  new  Churches 
were  received,  viz.:  Urbana,  Troy,  Florence,  and  Winthrop. 
The  last  was  organized  in  1859  and  comes  from  the  Cedar 
Valley  Association.  Rev.  G.  W ,  Lewis  is  pastor  at  Me- 
chanicsville,  J.  T.  Long  at  Mt.  Vernon,  and  A.  V.  Blood- 
good  at  Florence.  Rev.  D.  H.  Cooley  has  resigned  at  Cedar 
Rapids,  and  Brother  Sunderland  has  removed  from  Vinton 
to  Sioux  City  after  a  four  years'  pastorate. 

Vinton  was  the  place  of  assembling  in  1872.     Rev.  G. 


262  HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES 

W.  Lewis  preached  the  sermon,  N.  B.  Homan  Moderator, 
P.  P.  Shirley  clerk.  Brother  Shirley  is  pastor  at 
Marion,  A.  Chapin  again  at  Vinton,  J.  W.  Daniels 
at  Cedar  Rapids,  and  C.  J.  B.  Jackson  at  Anamosa,  Brother 
Robert  Leslie  having  closed  a  two  years'  pastorate  there. 
In  1873  met  at  Marion,  preacher  Rev.  C.  J.  B.  Jackson, 
Moderator  N.  B.  Homan,  clerk  Milton  Remley,  Esq.  Rev. 
Wm.  Wilder  has  succeeded  Brother  Daniels  at  Cedar 
Rapids,  and  N.  B.  Homan  has  taken  charge  at  Vinton.  It 
is  a  time  of  spiritual  decline,  only  17  baptisms  in  the 
Association.  In  the  following  year  there  is  more  light. 
The  meeting  was  at  Anamosa,  preacher  Wm.  Wilder,  who 
was  also  Moderator,  A.  St.  Clair  Smith  clerk.  127  bap- 
tisms were  reported  and  1,298  members.  Brother  Wilder 
has  baptized  69  at  Cedar  Rapids,  and  Brother  Cauch  27  at 
Winthrop. 

In  1875  the  Association  met  at  Winthrop  for  its  ]9th 
anniversary".  Rev.  J.   W.  Daniels  Moderator,   Smith   still 

clerk.  Brother  Homan  the  preacher.     Rev.  L.  H. 

Thompson  is  preaching  at  Castle  Grove  and 
Parker  s  Grove,  G.  D.  Simmons  at  Marion,  H.  N.  Millard 
at  Mechanicsville,  J.  McCulley  at  Troy  Church,  F.  W. 
Alnut  at  Fairview,  and  J.  W.  Daniels  at  Palo  and  Rogers' 
Grove.  In  a  previous  chapter  is  mentioned  a  meeting  held 
by  the  present  writer  at  Mechanicsville  during  the  previous 
winter.  It  is  mentioned  in  the  letter  of  the  Mechanicsville 
Church  at  this  session. 

The  twentieth  anniversary  took  place  in  1876  at  Marion. 
Rev.  Wm.  H.  Stiller  Moderator,  clerk  without  change.     J. 
W.    Daniels   preached    the   sermon.     Rev:  AVm. 
Wilder  has  resigned  and  accepted  the   appoint- 
ment of  Superintendent  of  State  Missions,  and  Rev.  Wm.  H. 
Stiller  has  removed  from  Cedar  Falls  and  is  pastor  at  Cedar 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  263 

Rapids.  Rev.  C.  Brooks  is  preaching  at  Center  Point,  L.  S. 
Livermore  at  Fairview,  and  Rev.  D.  N.  Mason  is  pastor  at 
Marion,  Rev.  Amos  Weaver  at  Vinton,  and  H.W.  Theile  at 
Anamosa.  A  church  lias  been  organized  at  Martelle  Avith 
ten  members,  J.  V.  Dewitt  pastor.  In  1877  Shellsburg  was 
the  entertaining  church.  Rev.  John  Cauch  preached  the 
sermon  and  was  Moderator.  A  year  of  changes  and  of  in- 
creased activity.  One  hundred  and  twenty -five  baptisms 
reported  and  1392  members.  Rev.  C.  T.  Tucker  has  be- 
come pastor  at  Anamosa,  J.  C.  Johnson  at  Belle  Prairie, 
James  Mitchell  at  Fairview;  J.  G.  Craven  is  preaching  at 
Benton  Center,  G.  D.  Simmons  at  Florence,  and  J.  W. 
Daniels  at  Shellsburg.  Marion  reports  44  baptized,  Cedar 
Rapids  24,  Anamosa  15  and  Vinton  10. 

Met  in  1878  at  Mechanicsville,  Rev.  Amos  Weaver  Mod- 
erator; Rev.  C.  T.  Tucker  preached  the  sermon.  A.  St. 
Clair  Smith,  Esq.,  has  now  been  the  clerk  five 
years,  No  important  changes  to  note.  In  1879 
Fairview  was  the  meeting  place.  Rev.  D.  N.  Mason 
preacher  and  Moderator,  H.  M.  Remley,  Esq.,  clerk.  Rev. 
Wm.  H.  Stiller  has  resigned  at  Cedar  Rapids  and  goes 
to  Davenport.  Rev.  H.  N.  Millard  has  also  resigned  at 
Mechanicsville,  and  is  succeeded  by  Rev.  M.  W.  Akers. 
R.  King  returns  from  Danville  to  his  old  field  at  Parker's 
Grove  for  a  season.  Rev.  J.  C.  Douglas  has  been  called  to 
Shellsburg.  During  Brother  Daniels'  yjastorate  here,  a 
debt  of  nearly  i?3,0U0  has  been  paid  and*  their  large  and 
commodious  house  of  worship  Las  been  finished  at  a  cost 
of  nearly  §1,000  more. 

Met  at  Belle  Plaine,  officers  same  as  last  }■  ear,  and  Rev. 

J.  C.  Johnson  preached  the  sermon.     Rev.  J.  C.  Burkholder 

has  become  pastor  as  Anamosa,  Brother  Tucker 
1 880.       ,  -  -  ,-  1 T        /--.I      T 

having   returned    to   a   former  field   at  Charles 


264  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

City.  Rev.  D.  C.  Ellis  is  at  Belle  Plaiue,  H.  C.  Bristol, 
at  Cedar  Rapids,  W.  C.  Pratt  at  Mechanicsville,  and 
Rev.  E.  Eno'lish  has  succeeded  Amos  Weaver,  at  Vinton. 
A  second  interest  called  the  Olivet  Church  at  Cedar  Rapids 
has  Rev.  John  Fulton  as  pastor. 

In  1881  the  Association  met  with  the  First  Cedar  Rapids 
Church.  Rev.  J.  C.  Burkholder  was  preacher  and  Moder- 
ator, H.  M.  Remle.v,  clerk.  Rev.  J.  L.  Coppoc  has  been 
preaching  at  Jordan's  Grove  since  1879,  and  has  now  re- 
moved to  Benton  Center.  Other  pastoral  changes  are: 
J.  Bodenham  to  Castle  Grove  and  Prairieburg,  J.  C.  John- 
son to  Fairview,  Wm.  L.  Hunter  to  Winthrop  and  Rev.  A. 
M.  Duboc  succeeds  D.  N.  Mason  at  Marion. 

In   1882  Vinton  is  the  place,  D.  C.  Ellis  the  preacher, 

Rev.  John  Fulton,  Moderator,  and  A.  J.    Malahan,   clerk. 

The    church    at    Benton    Center    has    changed 

1  po  o  ~ 

its  name  to  Van  Horn  and  is  making  progress. 
Rev.  G.  L.  Morrill  succeeds  J.  C.  Burkholder  at  Ana- 
mosa,  and  Rev.  L.  B.  Hibbard  is  pastor  at  Cedar  Rapids, 
Rev.  H.  C.  Bristol  having  gone  to  California  in  pursuit  of 
health.  Brother  Fulton  also  accompanies  a  son  to  the 
Pacific  in  the  same  pursuit.  Rev.  A.  Whitman,  of  Minne- 
sota, has  settled  at  Mechanicsville. 

In  1883  tlie  association  met  at  Anamosa.  Rev.  E.  Eng- 
lish preached  the  sermon  and  was  elected  to  preside,  A.  J. 
Malahan,  clerk.  During  the  year  Rev.  C.  H.  DeWolf  has 
succeeded  L.  B.  Hibbard  at  Cedar  Rapids,  and  A.  H. 
Lyons  has  settled  at  Fairview.  The  meeting  in  1884  was 
at  Marion,  G.  L.  Morrill  preached  and  presided,  F.  N". 
Eldridge,  clerk.  Rev.  A.  F.  Howell,  of  Toledo,  is  preach- 
ing at  Belle  Plaine,  H.  E.  Fuller  at  Marion,  J.  W.  Allen 
at  Quasqueton,  H.  L.  Clouse  at  Van  Home  and  F.  N.  Eld- 
ridge at  Vinton.     Other  pastors  same  as  last  year. 


M.  T.   V.  BOWMAN. 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  265 

In  1885  met  at  Fairview.  Rev.  C.  H.  DeWolf  preached 
the  sermon,  H.  E.  Fuller  Moderator,  C.  H.  Smith  clerk. 
^  ,  ^„  Rev.  C.  C.  Smith,  late  of  Clinton,  Iowa,  has  suc- 
ceeded Brother  Morrill  at  Anamosa.  Rev.  F.  IN". 
Eldridge  has  resigned  at  Vinton  to  become  State  Sunday 
School  Missionary,  and  Rev.  A.  W.  Fuller  of  Burlington 
has  taken  the  Vinton  field.  E.  E.  Packer  preaches  at 
Jordan's  Gfrove.  The  Olivet  Church,  Cedar  Rapids,  has 
disappeared  from  the  records.  It  is  understood  that  most 
of  the  membership  have  united  again  with  the  First  Church. 
This  Church  has  paid  oft'  a  troublesome  debt  of  )r^2,300.00 
during  the  last  year,  have  improved  their  property  at  a 
cost  of  nearly  $1,000,  and  have  bought  property  for  their 
Mission  School  on  the  west  side  costing  $1,300.00. 

In  1886  the  outlook  has  brightened  somewhat.  118 
baptisms  are  reported,  and  1127  members.  A  gain  of  111 
over  last  year,  and  a  larger  number  of  baptisms  than  in 
any  year  since  1877.  Rev.  D.  Griven  is  preaching  at  Fair- 
view  where  20  of  the  baptisms  are  reported.  Anamosa  re- 
ports 29,  Marion  26,  and  Vinton  17.  J.  R.  North  is  pastor 
at  Shellsburg  and  Parker's  Grove. 

Some  comparisons  of  the  condition  of  this  Association, 
and  of  its  chief  city  now,  and  ten  years  earlier,  will  give 
a  correct  idea  of  the  struggle  that  it  has  required  to  main- 
tain the  institutions  of  religion  in  these  older  parts  of  the 
State.  In  1876,  the  total  membership  in  the  Association 
was  1333,  and  in  Cedar  Rapids  259;  and  in  1886  the  Asso- 
ciation 1127  and  Cedar  Rapids  208.  Taking  the  two  peri- 
ods named,  and  we  have  a  loss  within  the  ten  years  of  206 
in  the  Association,  and  of  51  in  Cedar  Rapids.  The  ex- 
planation is  not  difficult.  The  emigration  to  the  west, 
the  peopling  of  the  vast  domain  opened  up  by  railroad  en- 
terprise, has  drawn  off  the  young  blood  from  our  churches 

18 


266  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

and  societies  and  made  it  a  continuous  struggle  for  exist- 
ence in  many  of  these  older  fields.  But  we  must  not  be  too 
much  discouraged  at  this.  The  seed  of  the  kingdom,  ma- 
tured in  these  fields,  has  been  cast  into  a  larger;  the  leaven 
into  a  larger  "three  measures  of  meal."  These  older 
churches  and  Associations  have  much  vitality  yet,  and 
when  the  reaction  comes,  as  it  will  come,  a  rich  harvest 
ma}^  yet  be  gathered  here.  It  is  probable  that  Linn  Asso- 
ciation is  entitled  to  the  proud  distinction  of  having  con- 
tributed more  monej^  to  the  State  Convention,  in  proportion 
to  the  amount  appropriated  within  its  borders,  than  any  of 
the  larger  and  older  Associations.  Without  attempting  to 
verify  this  remark,  the  following  comparison  of  contribu- 
tions within  the  Association  for  the  last  two  decades  re- 
spectively wil'  make  a  very  creditable  record,  of  the  20 
years,  while  suggesting  herhaps  the  need  of  looking 
well  to  the  present  tendency  and  the  future  record.  From 
1866  to  1875  inclusive,  the  contributions  in  this  Associa- 
tion for  State  Missions  amounted  to  $4464.12,  or  an  average 
of  $446.41|  a  year.  From  1876  to  1885  they  were  $2595.37, 
or  an  average  of  only  $259. 53|  a  year.  A  falling  ofl"  for 
ten  years  of  nearly  one  half.  For  the  last  five  years  of  the 
last  decade,  when,  be  it  remembered,  the  collections  have 
been  made  in  the  name  of  the  Home  Mission  Society  and 
Convention  both,  the  amount  has  been  $1434.32  or  an  av- 
erage of  $286.86  a  j^ear. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


Tpie  Iowa  Valley  Association — The  Edwards  Broth- 
ers AND  Other   Pioneers — Toledo    in    1855. 
Association  Org'anized    in    1858. — Un- 
fruitful FOR  A  Time  but  not  Aban- 
doned—1858  TO  1886. 

ECORD  was  made  in  a  farmer  chapter  of  a 
Chnrcli  orojanized  in  Toledo,  Tama  county, 
Iowa,  in  1855.  The  next  year  it  was  found 
in  the  Cedar  Valley  Association.  Rev.  Gr. 
G.  Edwards  pastor,  18  baptisms  and  58 
members.  In  1857  a  Church  was  organized  in  Hardin  coun- 
ty, called  the  Eldora  Church,  though  most  likely  not  in 
the  town  of  Eklora.  Churches  were  soon  afterwards  found- 
ed at  Cedar  Creek,  Green  Mountain,  Grinnell,  Redman, 
and  Richland.  For  two  or  three  years  the  only  pastors 
were  Brother  G.  G.  Edwards,  his  brother  E.  S.  Edwards 
and  A.  Dwight. 

In  September  1858  pursuant  to  a  call  of  the  Toledo 
Church,  a  Convention  met  in  that  place  to  organize  the 
Iowa  Valley  Association.  Churches  represented 
were  Eldora,  Green  Mountain,  Grinnell,  Redman, 
Richland  and  Toledo.     A  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  G. 


1858. 


268  HISTOEICAL    SKETCHES 

G.  Edwards.  Dr.  Jarvis  was  Moderator,  and  H.  S.  Cloud 
clerk.  The  territory  of  the  new  organization  was  in  Tama, 
Hardin,  Marshall,  Poweshiek,  and  later,  Grundy  counties 
with  parts  of  Benton  and  Iowa.  In  1859  the  first  anniver- 
sary was  held  at  Green  Mountain.  Deacon  John  Higgins 
was  chosen  Moderator  and  F.  D.  Rickerson  clerk.  Broth- 
er Rickerson  was  preaching  at  Grinnell.  The  name  Eldora 
disappears  and  Cedar  Creek  is  added.  It  may  be  but  a 
change  of  name  of  the  same  church.  The  membership  is 
now  163  in  five  churches.  Already  four  Sabbath  Schools 
are  reported  with  32  teachers  and  135  scholars.  Rev.  J.  C. 
Miles  of  Brooklyn  was  preacher.  Rev.  G.  G.  Edwards  read 
an  earnest  Circular  letter  on  "Present  efforts  and  responsi- 
bilities." 

Met  in  1860  at  Grinnell.     Brother   Rickerson  preached 

the  sermon,  Moderator  Higgins,  clerk.  Rev.  Robert  Turner. 

Columbia  and  Marietta  Churches  were  received. 
1  RFsn 

Grinnell   reports   15   baptisms   and     Toledo   12. 

Rev.  Dexter  P.  Smith  represented  the  State  Convention, 
and  Thomas  M.  Ind  of  Burlington  was  present.  Brother 
Rickerson  read  a  Circular  letter  on  the  "The  importance 
of  studying  and  applying  the  laws  of  efficiency  and  success 
in  religious  and  Church  work."  In  1861  met  at  Marietta. 
Deacon  Higgins  Moderator  C.  D.  Kelsey  clerk,  and  in  1862 
at  Toledo.  Same  chairman  with  Joshua  Burley  clerk.  It 
seems  a  little  remarkable  that  in  this  central  part  of  the 
State  the  growth  should,  these  early  years,  have  been  so 
slow,  and  that  so  little  notice  should  have  been  taken  of 
this  rich  valley  by  the  State  Convention.  From  1857  to 
1860,  however,  Rev.  G.  G.  Edwards  was  under  appointment 
of  the  Home  Mission  Society,  and  in  1859  and  '60  Brother 
F.  D'.  Rickerson.  About  this  time — 1862^ — Rev.  A.  A.  Saw- 
in  removed  from  Marion,  Iowa,  and  settled  at  West  Irving, 
Benton  county,  where  he  began  with  much  zeal  the  estab- 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  269 

lishment  of  an   Institution  of  Learning  called  "Addison 
Collegiate  Institute." 

Green  Mountain  was  the  place  of  meeting  again  in  1863. 

R.  Turner  preacher  and    Moderator,  Spencer  Day   clerk. 

The  Edwards  Brothers,  CI.  G.  and  E.  S.  are  both 

"I    Q  «  O 

in  the  Union  Army.  The  Marshalltown  Church 
had  just  been  organized  and  reported  16  members.  Rev. 
AV.  H.  Bibb  is  preaching  at  Honey  Creek  Church  which 
comes  in  this  year,  though  said  to  have  been  organized  in 
1860;  H.  S.  Cloud  at  Green  Mountain,  and  A.  A.  Sawin  at 
Toledo,  Not  a  baptism  reported.  It  is,  we  believe,  the 
only  instance  in  the  history  of  the  State  where  an  Associa- 
tion came  together  and  held  its  anniversary  and  there  was 
not  a  single  baptism  to  report  for  a  whole  year.  Here  there 
was  but  one  in  two  years.  Five  years  history  have  added 
but  one  to  the  number  of  churches,  and  30  to  the  number 
of  members. 

In  1864  met  in  Marshalltown.  Rev.  John  Cauch  (?) 
preached  the  sermon.  Deacon  Higgins  Moderator,  Spencer 
Day  clerk.  Rev.  A.  A.  Sawin  died  of  small  pox 
at  West  Irving  during  the  3^ear.  Rev.  R.  D. 
Hartshorn  at  Grinnell,  and  W.  H.  Bibb  at  Honey  Creek,  are 
the  only  pastoiK.  One  solitary  baptism.  The  outlook  waa 
truely  discouraging  enough,  yet  this  field  was  not  aban- 
doned nor  the  existence  and  future  of  the  Iowa  Valley 
Association  despaired  of  In  1875  the  Association  met 
again  at  Grinnell.  Rev.  A.  D.  Lowe  preached  the  sermon, 
officers  the  same  as  last  year.  This  meeting  at  Grinnell 
was  a  very  inspiring  one.  The  West  Irving  and  Helena 
churches  were  received.  Also  the  Xenia  Church,  Hardin 
county.  Rev.  A.  D.  Lowe  is  pastor  at  Toledo,  and  Rev.  A. 
F.  Willey,  late  of  Burlington,  at  Marshalltown,  Rev.  J.  C. 
Miles,  Helena,  J.  C.  Corey,  Honey  Creek,  P.  S    Whitman, 


270  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

West  Irving,  and  Brother  Dunbar  and  H.  H.  Half  at  Xenia 
make  up  the  increased  ministerial  force.  Rev,  P.  S.  AVhit- 
man  and  his  accomplished  wife  are  in  charge  of  the  school 
at  West  Irving.  The  rebellion  has  been  suppressed  and 
Rev.  G.  G.  Edwards  has  returned  from  the  south  with  his 
heart  all  aglow  in  the  interest  of  the  Freedmen.  He 
preached  and  took  a  collection  amounting  in  money  and 
pledges  to  $110.73.  At  3  p.  m.  on  Sabbath  the  congregation 
repaired  to  the^water  side  and  Pastor  Harrshorn  baptized 
three  persons  into  the  fellowship  of  the  Clrinnell  Church. 

The  meeting  in  1866  was  at  West  Irving.  Rev.  L.  S. 
Livermore.,  who  is  preaching  at  Grinnell,  delivers  the 
-,  r^r^r^  auuual  sermon.  Officers  unchanged.  Grinnell 
have  improved  their  meeting  house  and  Mar- 
shalltown  are  building.  The  Grinnell  meeting  house  was 
at  first  unfortunately  located,  and  had  afterwards  to  be 
removed  to  a  more  eligible  site.  Rev.  A.  F.  AVilley  has 
been  compelled,  by  feeble  healthy  to  resign  at  Marshall- 
town.  Rev.  G.  G.  Edwards  is  again  preaching  at  Toledo, 
Rev,  B.  W.  Stilson  has  labored  part  of  the  year  as  mis- 
sionary in  a  new  and  neglected  field  in  Franklin  county. 
The  anniversary  in  1867  was  at  Xenia  Rev.  P.  S.  Whit- 
man preached  the  sermon,  O.  A.  Holmes,  Moderator, 
Spencer  Day,  clerk.  Brother  Holmes,  after"  nine  years  of 
pioneer  work  at  Webster  City  and  other  points,  takes  up 
the  work  laid  down  by  Brother  Willey,  at  Marshall  town. 
Rev.  A.  Carpenter  is  pastor  at  Xenia.  This  meeting  was 
made  interesting  by  the  presence  of  Rev.  Dr.  Kincaid,  long 
a  missionary  in  India. 

Toledo  entertained  the  Association  in  1868,     Brother 

Holmes  preached  and  presided.       L.  A.  Scott,  clerk.     The 

Friendship    Baptist    Church,  of   Timber  Creek, 

and  the  Grundy  Center  Church  were  received. 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  271 

A.  B.  Masterson  and  A.  C.  Brockway,  delegates.  Rev. 
Thomas  Brand  has  become  pastor  at  Grinnell.  Brother 
Brand  spent  a  short  time  with  the  church  in  its  earliest 
years.  Marshalltown  has  been  greatly  blessed,  74  having 
been  baptized  and  they  now  number  170.  A  church  was 
reported  at  Orford  this  year  and  last,  E.  G.  O.  Groat,  pas- 
tor. The  annual  meeting  in  1869  was  at  Marshalltown. 
Thomas  Brand  preacher  and  Moderator,  H.  A.  Brown, 
clerk.  A  church  has  appeared  at  Eldora,  E.  P.  Barker, 
pastor.  Rev.  H.  A.  Brown  is  preaching  at  Toledo.  It  has 
been  a  prosperous  year,  especially  in  the  Marshalltown 
Church.  Brother  Holmes  has  baptized  61  and  Brother 
Brown,  at  Toledo,  33.  One  hundred  and  twelve  baptisms 
are  reported  in  all  and  610  members  in  10  churches  with  6 
pastors.  Growth  has  begun  in  this  region  as  it  had  not 
been  seen  before.  The  largest  number  of  baptisms  in  one 
year  previous  to  1868  was  31.  Rev.  A.  Carpenter  has 
begun  work  at  Grundy  Center. 

Met  in  1870  at  Grinnell.  Rev.  H.  A.  Brown  preached 
the  sermon,  O.  A.  Holmes  Moderator,  Spencer  Day  clerk. 
Tama  City  Church  is  received,  L.  L.  Gage,  pastor. 
Rev.  Myron  Root  is  pastor  at  Eldora.  Marshall- 
town  has  238  members,  and  her  church  property  is  valued 
at  $18,000.  Tama  City  already  has  a  $7,000  house,  Grin- 
nell a  $6,500,  and  Toledo  a  $2,500.  In  1871  Grundy  Center 
was  the  entertaining  church.  Rev.  T.  Brand  preached  the 
introductory  sermon.  Officers  unchanged.  Steamboat 
Rock  has  been  organized  with  14  members,  M.  Root  pastor. 
W.  L.  Cook  is  preaching  at  Eldora  and  A.  V.  Bloodgood  at 
Irving.  Rev.  T.  W.  Powell  with  enfeebled  health  has  re- 
signed at  Davenport  and  takes  up  lighter  work  at  Tama 
City.  Seventy  baptisms  are  reported  and  691  members. 
Union  Church  is  received. 

Met  in  1872  at  Tama  City.     Rev.  A.  Carpenter  preached 


272  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

and  presided.  Spencer  Day  clerk.  The  Point  Pleasant 
Church  was  received.  Brother  Holmes  has 
closed  a  very  successful  pastorate  of  five  or  six 
years  at  Marshalltown  and  goes  to  Tama  City.  He  is  suc- 
ceeded at  Marshalltown  by  Rev  L.  J.  Fisher.  The  annual 
meeting  in  1873  was  at  West  Irving.  A.  Carpenter  Moder- 
ator, H.  A.  Brown  clerk.  The,  Brooklyn  Chii^rch  was  re- 
ceived from  the  English  River  Association.  O.  M.  Merrick 
pastor.  There  is  a  new  organization  called  Oakwood 
Church,  C.  Spragg,  pastor.  The  name  of  the  village  and 
church  of  Orford  is  changed  to  Montour.  Rev.  A.  Orcott 
is  preaching  at  Xenia.  The  Association  is  now  having  a 
healthy  growth;  70  baptisms'are  reported  against  17  last 
year. 

In  1874  the  meeting  was  at  Steamboat  Rock.  Rev.  ]). 
N.  Mason  has  succeeded  Brother  Fisher  at  Marshalltown. 
The  Union  Church  after  reporting  only  a  year  or 
two  disappears.  Many  churches  have  very  brief 
history.  Officers,  O.  A.  Holmes  Moderator,  H.  A.  Brown 
clerk.  Brother  Brown  preached  the  introductory  sermon. 
In  1875  Marshalltown  again  entertained  the  Association. 
Rev.  E.  P.  Barker  preached  the  sermon,  W.  L.  Cook  Modera- 
tor, H.  A.  Brown  still  clerk.  Rev.  J.  C.  By  water  is  preach- 
ing at  Brooklyn  and  Rev.  E.  Wood  at  Irving.  Grundy 
Center  dedicated  a  good  and  commodious  meeting  house  in 
December,  1875.  This  church  has  shown  a  healthy  though 
not  rapid  growth.  Brother  Carpenter  has  been  its  only 
pastor  since  its  organization  in  1868. 

In  1876  the  Anniversary  was  at  Grundy  Center,  Rev.  J. 
C.  Hurd  Moderator.  E.  P.  Barker  clerk.     Rev.  W.  L.  Cook 
preached  the  sermon.     Rev.  A.  H,  Post  is  preach- 
ing at  Brooklyn  and  Gifi'ord.   The  latter  is  a  new 
organization  with  27  members,  9  of  whom  were  received  b}^ 


OF    rOWA    BAPTISTS.  273 

baptism.  Rev.  J.  C,  Hurd  has  become  pastor  at  Marshall- 
town,  succeeding  Brother  Mason  who  removes  to  Marion 
and  becomes  pastor  there  and  secretary  of  the  State 
Convention.  Brother  Hurd  at  Marshalltown  reports  24 
baptisms,  Pastor  Holmes  at  Tama  City  53,  Carpenter  at 
Grundy  Center  11,  and  Cook  at  Pt.  Pleasant  10.  Whole 
number  of  baptisms  130.  The  largest  in  the  history  of  the 
Association.  Rev.  J.  C.  By  water  of  Brooklyn  died  during 
the  year.  In  1877  the  Association  met  at  Tama  City.  Rev. 
J.  C.  Hurd  preached  the  annual  sermon,  O.  A.  Holmes  Mod- 
erator, S.  H.  Mitchell  clerk.  Rev.  A.  Carpenter  has  resigned 
his  long  and  successful  pastorate  at  Grundy  Center,  and 
S.  H.  Mitchell  has  succeeded  him.  Brother  Brand  has 
served  nine  years  as  pastor  at  Grinnell,  H.  A.  Brown  eight 
at  Toledo,  and  O.  A.  Holmes  five  at  Tama  City.  These 
with  Brother  Carpenter's  eight  years  of  service  just  closed 
make  an  encouraging  record  for  pastoral  permanency. 

In  1878  Grinnell  was  the  place  of  meeting.  Sermon  by 
S.  H.  Mitchell.  Officers  the  same  as  in  1877.  The  Marengo 
Church  transfers  its  connection  from  the  English 
River  Association  to  this  body.  Rev.  George  E. 
Eldridge  is  pastor.  This  is  really  a  restoration  of  the 
Marengo  Church  which  was  dropped  from  the  records  of 
its  Association  some  years  ago.  Marengo  is  a  hard  field 
for  a  Baptist  church,  but  Brother  Eldridge  is  doing  a  good 
work  for  the  time  being,  and  be  will  have  his  reward.  Rev. 
J.  C.  Hurd  has  resigned  at  Marshalltown  and  become 
pastor  of  the  1st  Church  of  Burlington.  Marshalltown 
reports  23  baptisms  but  no  pastor.  Rev.  George  Houghton 
is  preaching  at  Eldora  and  has  led  the  church  in  a  move- 
ment to  secure  a  church  home.  In  1879  the  Association 
met  at  Eldora,  in  their  new  church  home.  Brother  Hough- 
ton, who  was  ordained  here  last  April,  has  resigned  and 
Rev.  T.  F.  Babcock  is  on  the  ground  read}'  to  enter  the 


274  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

vacant  place.  Rev.  O.  A.  Holmes  preached  the  sermon  and 
was  Moderator,  and  S.  H.  Mitchell  still  clerk.  Rev.  Thomas 
Brand  has  resigned  after  eleven  years  constant  service  at 
Grinnell,  and  Rev.  H.  C.  Leland  is  pastor.  Rev.  H.  A. 
Brown,  in  addition  to  his  pastoral  work  at  Toledo,  has  for 
a  number  of  years  been  county  superintendent  of  schools 
in  Tama  county.  He  has  now  resigned  at  Toledo  and  they 
are  without  a  pastor.  Rev.  T.  W.  Powell  has  become 
pastor  at  Marshalltown,  and  has  set  about  the  arduous 
task  of  freeing  the  church  from  a  $4,000  debt. 

In  1880  the  Association  met  at  Marshalltown.  The  time 
of  meeting  has  been  changed  to  the  middle  of  the  week. 
.  PPP^  Rev.  I.  W.  Reed,  who  seems  to  have  been  a  vis- 
itor, preached  the  sermon.  Hon.  Delos  Arnold 
was  Moderator.  Clerk  the  same  as  for  the  three  years 
previous.  Baptisms  125,  members  927.  This  is  the  third 
time  in  the  history  of  the  organization  that  the  number  of 
baptisms  has  exceeded  100.  Grinnell  reports  69;  but  Bro. 
Leland,  after  this  great  ingathering,  has  resigned  and  re- 
moved to  Chicago.  Rev.  C.  E.  Taylor,  late  of  Illinois  is 
his  successor.  Brother  Powell,  having  accomplished  the 
work  at  Marshalltown  for  which  his  faith  and  tact  so  well 
fitted  him,  the  entire  removal  of  their  troublesome  church 
debt,  has  removed  and  become  pastor  of  the  Grand  Avenue 
Church,  Milwaukee.  Rev.  J.  C.  Johnson  is  preaching  at 
Toledo.  Rev.  A.  Carpenter  has  been  preaching  at  Oak- 
wood  and  Point  Pleasant  since  1878.  The  church  at  Grun- 
dy Center,  twelve  years  old,  is  receiving  missionar}^  aid  for 
the  first  time  in  its  history;  the  occasion  now  being  a 
debt  of  'S500,  caused  by  the  failure  to  collect  pledges  made 
at  the  dedication  of  its  meeting  liouse  in  December,  1875. 
The 'debt  when  the  pastor  Mitchell  first  took  charge  of  the 
church  in  1877  was  considerably  larger. 

The   Anniversary  in    1881  was   at  Toledo.     Rev.  T.  F. 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  275 

Babcock  preached   the  sermon,  S.  H.  Mitchell  Moderator, 
^  QQ  Spencer  Day,  after  an  interval  of   eight  years,  is 

again  clerk.  Rev.  A.  C.  Wilkins  has  settled  as 
pastor  at  Marshalltown.  The  Gifford  Church,  virtually 
extinct  for  a  number  of  years,  has  been  reorganized,  and 
recognized  by  a  Council,  but  with  limited  prospect  of  dura- 
bility as  a  church.  Brother  Taylor  has  resigned  at  Grinnell 
and  gone  to  Bedford,  Iowa.  Rev.  A.  J.  Delano  labored  a 
part  of  the  year  at  Marengo,  but  the  field  does  not  give 
promise  of  success.  In  1882  Grundy  Center  again  enter- 
tains the  Association.  Rev.  J.  L.  Coppoc  is  the  preacher 
A.  Carpenter  Moderator,  Spencer  Day  clerk.  Brother 
Coppoc  is  preaching  at  Toledo.  S.  H.  Mitchell  closes  a 
pastorate  of  five  and-a-fourth  years  at  Grundy  Center  and 
goes  to  take  charge  of  the  church  at  Danville,  Iowa.  The 
Grundy  Center  Church  have  been  regularly  paying  the 
interest  and  $100  a  year  on  the  principal  of  their  debt. 

Tama   City  has   the   Association   in   1883.     Rev.  H.  B. 
Fosketfc,  who  has  become  pastor  at  Marshalltown,  preached 

the   sermon.  Rev.  T.  Brand   Moderator,    S.  Day 

-[  o  o  q  '  1  J 

clerk.  Rev.  Thomas  Anderson  is  ordained  pastor 
at  Grundy  Center.  Harry  Woodson  is  preaching  at  Eldora, 
Rev.  C.  H.  DeWolf  at  Grinnell,  and  Rev.  D.  T.  Richards 
succeeds  pastor  Holmes  after  eleven  years  of  labor  at  Tama 
City.  Brother  Holmes  goes  to  Nebraska.  Few  men  in 
Iowa  could  be  more  reluctantly  spared.  Rev.  H.  L.  Steele 
is  preaching  at  Marengo.  A  church  has  been  organized  at 
Ferguson.  In  1884  Grinnell  entertained  the  Association 
for  the  5th  time.  H.  B.  Foskett  Moderator,  Spencer  Day 
clerk.  In  the  27  years'  history  of  the  body  up  to  1884 
Brother  Day  has  been  its  clerk  12  years.  Rev.  C.  H.  De- 
Wolf,  after  a  brief  stay  at  Grinnell,  becomes  pastor  of  the 
First  Baptist  Church,  Cedar  Rapids,  and  Rev.  E.  English 
has  removed  from  Vinton  to  Grinnell.     Rev.  A.  F.  Howell 


276 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 


1885. 


is  preaching  at  Toledo  in  connection  with  Belle  Plain. 
Rev.  H.  H.  Clouse  of  Van  Home  is  supplying  Ferguson. 
Brother  Harry  Woodson  was  ordained  at  Eldora  in  April. 

The  Association  in  1885  convened  at  Marshall  town. 
Elder  Brand  again  serving  as  Moderator,  Thomas  Anderson 
clerk.  Brother  Anderson  was  the  preacher  of  the 
annual  sermon.  Baptisms  reported  71,  members 
759.  This  Association  has  changed  but  little  in  territory. 
It  has  never  had  a  thousand  members,  and  for  several  years 
the  number  has  been  diminishing.  But  it  has  an  honorable 
record.  In  one  respect  it  seems  to  have  excelled.  That  is 
in  its  long  pastorates.  1886  exhibits  increased  diminu 
tion.  Only  11  baptisms  and  673  members.  Brother 
Anderson  has  resigned  at  Grundy  Center. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


sociatioii. 


The  Westerist  Iowa  Association — Organized  at  Adel 
IN  1859 — Comprising  the   Entire  North-West 

(q^UAIlTEK    of     the    StATE — AnD    AT     ONE 

Time  Dakota--18o9  to  1880. 

i"¥'GrREEABLE  to  a  request  of  the  clinrches  at 
Adel,  Dallas  county,  and  Panora,  Guthrie 
county,  a  council  convened  at  Adel  on  the 
23d  day  of  September,  1859,  for  the  purpose 
of  organizing  the  Western  Iowa  Baptist  As- 
Elder  A.  W.  Russell  was  chosen  Moderator 
and  Cole  Noel  of  Adel  clerk.  The  churches  represented  at 
this  meeting  were  Adel,  Wintersett,  Panora,  Sac  City,  Jef- 
ferson and  Buffalo  Grove.  The  membership  was  154  in  the 
six  cliurches.  These,  with  a  single  exception  so  far  as 
known,  comprised  all  the  Baptist  churches  then  existing 
west  of  Des  Moines,  and  north  of  a  line  running  through 
Winterset,  25  miles  south  of  that  city.  The  first  seed  sown 
by  Baptists  in  all  this  great  region  was  probably  at  Deni- 
son,  Crawford  county,  the  exception  referred  to  above. 
Rev.  J.  W.  Denison  "came  to  Crawford  county  in  the 
autumn  of  1855,  and  during  that  and  the  next  year  select- 
ed a  quantity  of  land  for  the  'Providence  Western  Land 
Company,'  and  in  September,  1856,  began  the  settlement  of 


278  HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES 

the  town  of  Denison"  which  jook  its  name  from  him.  In 
1857  there  was  here  an  unassociated  church  with  16  mem- 
bers. The  ministers  present  at  this  first  meeting  of  the 
Association  were  A.  W.  Rnssell,  Winterset,  J.  Ellege  of 
Madison  county,  L.  Yarnell  of  Adel,  Charles  Oldfield  Sac 
City,  and  Barton  Robinson  of  Buffalo  &rove  or  Rippey. 

The  first  anniversary  was  held  August  31,  1860,  at  Pa- 
nora.  A.  W.  Russell  preached  the  introductory  sermon 
and  was  elected  Moderator,  and  J .  W.  Denison 
clerk.  The  Denison,  Guthrie  Center,  Rippey  and 
Montpelier  churches  were  received.  The  Rippey  Church 
probably  took  the  place  of  Buffalo  Grove  which  had  dis- 
banded. Rev.  J.  W.  Denison,  R.  D.  Tisdale  and  T.  C. 
Townsend  are  additional  ministers.  Among  visitors  were 
the  Rev.  John  Warren  of  the  Eden  Association,  step-father 
of  Dr.  G.  J.  Johnson,  Rev.  Wm.  Sparks,  who  may  be  called 
the  father  of  the  Upper  Des  Moines  Association,  and  Rev. 
N".  J.  Rundquist,  Colporteur  of  the  American  Baptist  Pub- 
lication Societ}^.  This  brother  was  a  Swede,  and  if  we  are 
not  mistaken,  one  of  the  early  converts  in  Sweden  under  the 
Baptist  movement  fostered  by  the  Society  in  that  country. 
The  second  anniversary  was  held  in  1861  at  Jefferson. 
Brother  Barton  Robinson  preached  the  sermon.  Officers 
the  same  as  the  previous  year.  Belonging  to  the  Jefferson 
Church,  and  taking  an  active  part  in  these  early  days,  was 
Brother  Dan.  Mills,  father  of  the  founders  of  the  great 
printing  house  of  Mills  &  Co.  of  Des  Moines.  The  Sioux 
City  Church  was  received  in  1861. 

The  meeting  in  1862  was  at  Denison.     Barton  Robinson 

preacher   again,  R.  D.  Tisdale  Moderator,  E.  S.  Plimptofi 

clerk.      Winterset   had    completed   a   neat   and 

comfortable   house   of  worship  and  was   out   of 

debt.     The  next  meeting  was  held  at  Winterset  in  1863. 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  279 

Rev.  J.  W.  Denison  had  been  appointed  to  preach,  but 
not  arriving  in  time,  the  writer  of  these  sketches  being 
present  was  invited  to  preach.  Text,  "  Let  him  that  hear- 
eth  say  come."  Rev.  W.  A.  Eggleston  was  pastor  at 
Winterset  and  was  elected  Moderator,  E.  J.  Ayers  clerk. 
The  Clanton  Church,  Madison  county,  was  received.  This 
was  the  home  of  Elder  EUege,  active  in  the  early  days  of 
this  body.  In  1864  Adel  was  the  place  of  meeting,  J. 
EUege  preacher  and  Moderator,  George  Scott  clerk.  Brother 
Scott  has  just  entered  this  field  from  a  considerable  term 
of  similar  service  in  northeastern  Iowa.  He  appears  at 
this  time  to  have  been  living  at  Lake  City,  Calhoun  county, 
and  preaching  there  and  at  Denison,  to  which  place  he 
removed  shortly  after.  Pastor  Eggleston  of  Winterset  was 
reported  dangerously  sick,  and  prayers  were  offered  in  his 
behalf.  Elder  Wm.  E.  Reed,  also  of  northeastern  Iowa,  is 
preaching  at  Guthrie  Center  and  Panora.  The  Association 
is  now  five  years  old  and  has  12  churches  and  253 
members. 

Jefferson  entertained  the  anniversary  in  1865.  Brother 
Denison  preached  the  sermon,  George  Scott  Moderator,  J. 
E.  Rockwood  clerk.  Brother  Rockwood  has  be- 
1  obb.  come  pastor  at  Sioux  City,  and  they  are  building. 
For  the  next  five  years  the  Association  met  respectivel.y  at 
Denison,  Lake  Creek,  Sioux  City,  Denison  again,  and 
Jefferson.  Moderators  were  Brothers  Eggleston,  Russell, 
Scott,  W.  M.  Simons,  and  Scott  again.  Brother  Rock- 
wood was  clerk  during  this  period,  and  the  preachers  of 
annual  sermons  were  Rockwood,  Ed  Tuffin,  Simons  twice,  and 
Scott.  In  1866  "  A  letter  from  brethren  calling  themselves 
the  Maple  Valley  Church  "  was  received  and  the  Church 
welcomed  with  9  members.  This  afterward  became  the 
Mapleton  Church.  Sioux  City  dedicated  its  house  of 
worship  and  Jefferson  has  begun   to  build.     In  1867  the 


280  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Kendrick  Cliurcb  in  Green  county  was  added,  also  Yankton, 
Dacotah,  with  (5  members,  and,  soon  after,  a  cliurcli  at 
Vermillion,  Dacotali.  The  Western  Iowa  Association  at  this 
time  comprised  all  the  Baptist  churches  in  all  northwest- 
ern Iowa  and  Dacotah.  In  18(38  there  was  an  encouraging 
revival.  110  baptisms  were  reported,  of  which  Denison 
reported  11,  Guthrie  Center  16,  Jefferson  21,  Maple  Valley 
11,  and  Winterset  50.  Winterset  now  dissolves  her  con- 
nection with  this  body  and  unites  with  the  Central  Iowa. 
Rev.  Wm.  M.  Simons  is  pastor  at  Jefferson,  and  James 
Patrick  at  Maple  Valley.  ^The  Logan  Church  was  re- 
ceived, George  Scott  pastor  in  connection  with  Denison. 
In  1869  Modale  and  Soldier  Valley  Churches  were  added. 
C.  G.  Smith  appears  as  pastor  at  Guthrie  Center  and 
Rippey.  Hon.  A.  Abernathy  was  in  attendance  as  a  worker 
in  the  Association.  Maple  Valley  reported  45  baptisms, 
Panora  28,  and  there  were  in  all  105. 

The  year  of  1870  witnessed  the  addition  of  the  Panther 
Creek,  Grant  City,  Woodbine  and  Castana  churches.     Amos 

Robinson  was  pastor  at  Jefferson,  and  E.   G.    O. 
1  RVD 

Groat  was  welcomed  back  from  Nebraska.     Bro. 

Rockwood  removed  about  1869  to  Logan.  In  1871  Rev. 
James  Sunderland  has  taken  up  the  work  at  Sioux  City. 
Cherokee  and  Union  Ridge  are  added  to  the  list  of  church- 
es. Robert  Dunlap  has  become  pastor  at  Denison.  The 
Wolf  Creek,  Dunlap,  and  Pioneer  Church  in  Clay  county 
unite  with  the  Association  in  1872.  Mention  was  made  at 
this  time  of  a  number  of  unassociated  churches  in  the 
north-west  part  of  the  State,  indicating  activity  in  occupy- 
ing that  new  field.  A  good  revival  interest  has  been  en- 
joyed in  places.  The  new  Wolf  Creek  Church  reports  29 
baptisms.  Rev.  A.  W.  Hilton  has  become  pastor  at  Cher- 
okee, hailing  from  north-eastern  Iowa.  In  1873  six  new 
churches  were   made  welcome   in    the   body.     These  were 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  281 

Storni  Lake,  New  Testament  Church,  Newell,  Spirit  Lake, 
Sioux  Rapids,  and  South  Plymouth .  Elder  J.  E.  Sanders 
is  preachiiigat  Sioux  Rapids,  Norman  Parks  atStorm  Lake, 
B.  F.  Goldsby  at  Logan,  A.  M.  Duboc  at  Denison,  Jacob 
Hockett  at  New  Testament,  J.  W.  Jones  at  Pioneer,  and 
A.  J.  Delano  at  Jefferson.  In  1874  at  the  anniversary  at 
Dunlap,  a  letter  was  received  from  Elder  Sunderland  stat- 
ing that  the  Sioux  Valley  Association  had  been  constituted 
in  August  of  that  year  with  11  churches  and  349  members, 
of  whom  88  had  been  baptized  during  the  year.  This  left 
the  Western  Association  with  but  8  churches  two  pastors 
and  259  members.  This  is  its  fifteenth  anniversary.  The 
two  pastors  were  A.  M.  Duboc  and  B.  P.  Goldsby. 

For  the  five  years,  1871  to  1875,  the  successive  anniver- 
saries were  at  Logan,  Mapleton,  Cherokee,  Dunlap,  and 
Soldier  Valley.  The  Moderators  were  Georse 
Scott,  R.  Dunlap,  J.  Sunderland,  B.  F.  Goldsby, 
and  John  Patrick.  The  clerks  were  Rockwood,  Sunder- 
land, Sanders,  Duboc,  and  Sanders  again.  The  annual 
sermons  were  preached  by  Sunderland,  Dunlap,  Groat, 
Goldsby  and  Sanders.  These  names  for  the  respective 
periods  serve  to  show  who  were  the  active  burden  bearers. 
In  1S76  the  New  Union  Church  united.  While  the  records 
show,  as  reported  above,  only  two  pastors  left  after  the 
organization  of  the  Sioux  Valley  Association,  yet  the 
Patricks,  James  and  John,  were  undoubtedly  preaching  in 
their  vicinity  and  in  1876  the  latter  is  said  to  have  closed  a 
pastorate  of  eight  years  at  Soldier  Valley.  There  were 
some  glorious  revivals  in  1877.  Denison  reported  35  bap- 
tized, J.  B.  Hawk  pastor;  Logan  19,  and  Maple  Valley  14.. 
J.  E.  Sanders  was  preaching  at  Maple  Valley,  Rev.  J.  E. 
Rockwood  closed  about  this  time  an  active  service  of  thir- 
teen years  in  this  Association  and  removed  to  Nebraska. 
The  Carroll  Church  was  received  in  1878.     Magnolia  and 


282  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Missouri  Valley  applied  for  admission,  but,  Laving  neglected 
to  call  Councils  for  recognition,  were  advised  to  wait  until 
the  neglect  was  remedied.  Rev.  J.  M.  Bay  appears  as 
pastor  at  Modale.  In  1879  the  Magnolia  and  the  Sheridan 
Township  Church,  Carroll  county,  were  received.  Rev. 
Ira  E.  Kenney  was  a  delegate  from  Dunlap.  Hon.  Alonzo 
Abernathy  was  elected  Moderator  in  expectation  of  his 
arrival,  but  not  appearing  in  time  Brother  Sanders  was  sub- 
stituted. At  the  session  at  Dunlap  in  1879  their  meeting 
house  was  dedicated,  Rev.  J.  A.  Nash,  D.  D.,  of  Des 
Moines  preaching  the  sermon.  The  Ida  Grove  and  West 
Side  Churches  were  added  in  1880.  Rev.  J.  W.  Daniels 
was  pastor  at  Ida  Grove,  and  Demas  Robinson  at  the 
Sheridan  Church.  For  the  five  years,  1876  to  1880,  the 
anniversaries  were  at  Denison,  Logan,  Soldier  Valley, 
Dunlap  and  Carroll.  Moderators,  George  Scott  three  years 
in  succession,  J.  E.  Sanders  and  Ira  E.  Kenney,  D.  D.  The 
introductory  sermons  were  by  J.  E.  Rockwood,  John  Pat- 
rick, J.  B.  Hawk,  J.  E.  Sanders,  and  Ira  E.  Kenney.  From 
1881  to  1885  the  meetings  were  at  Denison,  Ida  Grove,  Dow 
City,  Logan  and  Mapleton.  Moderators,  Ira  E.  Kenney, 
Amos  Robinson,  Thomas  Reese,  S.  H.  Mitchell,  and  W. 
H.  H.  Avery.  Clerks,  J.  E.  Sanders,  W.  H.  Dorward,  F.  M. 
Archer,  and  H.  S.  Fisher  the  last  two  years.  The  intro- 
ductory sermons  were  by  F.  W.  Foster,  A.  Robinson, 
Thomas  Reese,  Wm.  E.  Randall,  and  Brother  Avery. 

Brother  Amos  Robinson  succeeded  pastor  Hawk  at  Den- 
ison in  1881.  W.  H.  Dorward  was  pastor  the  same  year  at 
Mapleton,  J.  E.  Sanders  at  Carroll,  C.  A.McManis 
.  ^^S^-  at  Ida  Grove,  F.  W.  Foster  at  Dow  City  and  E. 
G.O.  Groat  at  Logan.  Ida  Grove  completed,  led  by  Brother 
Daniels,  a  beautiful  house  of  worship.  The  meeting  at 
Ida  Grove  in  1862  was  pronounced  on  adjournment  "the 
best  Associational  gathering  in  our  history.''    The  fre- 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  283 

quent  change  of  pastors  is  the  subject  of  anxious  regret. 
Not  a  pastor  had  been  with  his  church  three  years.  The 
Denison  Church  reported  the  decease  of  the  honored  Rev. 
J.  W.  Denison.  A.  J.  Delano  was  preaching  at  Dunlap. 
During  1883  four  churches  completed  houses  of  worship, 
viz.  Missouri  Valley,  Woodbine,  Dow  City,  and  Mapleton. 
Dr.  I.  E.  Kenney  has  been  a  liberal  fosterer  of  these 
church  building  enterprises  along  the  Boyer  Valley.  He 
preached  dedicator}^  sermons  for  three  of  these  cliurches 
within  the  year,  and  had  contributed  liberally  towards 
their  erection.  Rev.  T.  S.  Bovell  was  preaching  at  Carroll, 
F.  M.  Archer  at  Ida  Grove,  and  J.  C.  Carter  at  Logan  in 
1883.  In  1884  Rev.  Wm.  E.  Randall  is  found  at  Missouri 
Valley,  J.  F.  Heilner  at  Ida  Grove,  W.  H.  H.  Avery  at 
Denison  and  S.  H.  Mitchell  Just  settling  at  Mapleton. 
Not  a  pastor  in  the  Association  had  been  two  years  on  his 
field. 

The  year  1885  exhibits  some  religions  improvement. 
There  were  71  baptisms  reported.  The  largest  number  in 
any  one  year  since  1869.  Rev.  W,  N.  McKendrick 
has  been  preaching  at  Grant  City.  Brotlier  Mc- 
Kendrick was  pastor  at  Mapleton  a  year  or  two  at  an  ear- 
lier date  which  was  not  noticed  in  its  proper  place  in  this 
sketch.  Rev.  Wm.  E.  Randall  removed  late  in  1884  from 
Missouri  Valley  to  Dow  City  where  he  is  being  greatly 
blessed.  Elder  Reese  is  preaching  at  Dunlap.  Of  the 
baptisms  reported  in  1885,  36  were  at  Denison  and  28  at 
Dow  City.  The  Grant  City  Church,  for  several  years  con- 
nected with  the  Upper  Des  Moines  Association,  has  re- 
turned to  this  body,  and  the  Riverside  Church  in  Sac 
county  was  received.  The  meeting  in  1886  was  at  Wood- 
bine. Elder  Thomas  Reese  of  Dunlap  preached  the  annual 
sermon.  H.  S.  Fisher  Moderator,  S.  H.  Mitchell  clerk.  It 
has  been  a  year   of  increased  spiritual  blessing.     Ninety- 


284  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

seven  baptisms  were  reported;  Dow  City  28,  Mapleton  21, 
Woodbine  12,  Schaller  10,  Ida  Grove  9,  Carroll  7,  and  Den- 
ison  one.  Mapleton  has  considerably  more  than  doubled 
its  effective  membership.  The  meeting  of  the  Association 
in  1886  was  to  have  been  at  Denison,  but  during  the  pre- 
vious winter  their  house  of  worship  was  entirely  destroyed 
by  fire,  together  with  the  pastor's  library  and  many  valua- 
ble papers.  They  are  doing  what  they  can  to  repair  the 
damage,  and  ere  another  year  will  have  a  new  and  better 
home  completed.  At  the  annual  meeting  at  Woodbine, 
Brother  W.  F.  Gray  of  the  new  church  at  Schaller,  or- 
ganized during  the  year,  and  C.  M.  Wilcox  of  Grant  City 
were,  by  request  of  their  churches,  publicly  ordained  as 
their  pastors.  Brother  J.  S.  Norvell  has  been  supplying 
for  six  months  at  Carroll  with  marked  acceptance  and 
success.  It  was  gratefully  mentioned  as  a  source  of  encour- 
agement that  "most  of  our  churches  have  pastors,  and  that 
permanency  in  the  pastoral  office  is  coming  to  be  the  rule 
and  not  a  rare  occurrence,"  but  alas  I  alas,  before  the  year 
expires,  Carroll,  Dow  City,  Ida  Grove,  Mapleton,  and 
Woodbine  are  all  actually  or  prospectively  vacant,  or  bave 
changed  pastors. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


Keokuk  Association  (Formerly  Des  Moines)— Remark- 
able AND  Continuous  Revivals — History 
From  1860  to  1886. 


g^PON    tlie   dissolution  of   the  old   Des  Moines 
Association    in   1859,    the    new   oi'o'anization 


comprising  the  south  division  of  its  territory- 
took  the  name  of  the  Keokuk  Association, 
This  body  held  its  first  meeting  at  West 
Point  in  August,  1860.  The  following  churches  were  re- 
ported: Bethlehem,  28  members;  Big  Mound,  47;  Den- 
mark, 47 ;  Farmington,  26  ;  Fort  jNladison,  140 ;  Glasgow,  96; 
1st  Keokuk,  96;  2d  Keokuk,  82 ;  Liberty,  106  ;  Mt.  Zion,  119  ; 
Pilot  Grove,  82  ;  West  Point,  111 ;  Warren,  30 ;  making  13 
churches  with  998  members.  The  year  had  been  one  of  re- 
markable prosperity.  Pastor  Cochran  reported  16  baptisms 
at  Big  Mound,  Egglestou  24  at  Denmark,  Johnson  54  at  Fort 
Madison,  Lee  18  at  Pilot  Grove,  and  Coggshall  23  at  West 
Point;  and  Liberty,  though  without  a  pastor,  reports  14, 
also  W.  S.  Cochran  17  at  Warren.  Total  in  Association 
173.  Besides  the  above,  W.  H.  Turton  was  pastor  at  Farm- 
ington, T.  S.  Griffith  at  1st  Keokuk,  and  M.  Sutton  at  Mt. 
Zion.  For  the  next  five  years  respectively  the  anniversaries 
were  held  at  Fort  Madison,  Liberty,  Bonaparte,  Denmark, 
and  Keokuk.     Moderators  in  their  order  were  R.  Hubbard, 


286  HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES 

Ct.  J.  Johnson  twice,  M.  Sutton,  Hon.  J.  M.  Beck.  The 
clerks  for  the  same  years  were  Charles  Hubbell  two  years, 
W.  H.  Turton  and  D.  W.  Ford  twice.  And  the  annual 
preachers  were  T.  S.  Griffith,  J.  Lee,  J.  Lewelling,  and  J. 
T.  Westover. 

The  revival  continued  through  1861  with  great  power. 
265  baptisms  were  reported.  Rev.  W.  A.  Eggleston  has  be- 
come pastor  atMt.  Zion  (Bonaparte)  and  reports  48 
baptized.  Brother  Griffith  72  at  Keokuk  and 
Johnson  36  at  Fort  Madison.  Rev.  P.  Inskeep  is  preach- 
ing at  Bethlehem,  Jefferson,  and  Charleston  and  reports  53 
baptisms  at  the  two  latter  churches — 28  and  25.  Brother 
Sutton  is  preaching  at  Big  Mound  and  Glasgow.  The  As- 
sociation was  held  in  the  spacious  new  edifice  of  the  Fort 
Madison  Church.  After  the  morning  service  on  the  Sab- 
bath the  congregation  repaired  to  the  banks  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, three  squares  distant,  and  witnessed  the  baptism  by 
the  pastor,  G.  J.  Johnson,  of  four  young  ladies,  recent  con- 
verts. In  1862  two  small  churches  were  added,  bearing  by 
a  singular  coincidence  the  same  name.  Cedar  Church,  Lee 
county,  organized  in  1862,  and  Cedar.  VanBuren  county, 
from  the  Oskaloosa  Association.  The  Liberty  Church,  near 
Charleston,  where  the  Association  was  held,  had  lost  its 
meeting  house  by  fire  during  the  year.  West  Point  had 
given  more  than  half  her  male  members  to  the  Union  army. 
The  Keokuk  Association  was  intensely  loyal ;  acknowl- 
edged in  the  clearest  terms  the  wrong  that  had  brought  on 
the  war,  and  resolved  most  distinctly  upon  the  putting  away 
of  slavery  as  necessary  to  a  permanent  peace.  Notwith- 
standing the  distractions  of  the  times  there  was  a  good  de- 
gree of  spiritual  prosperity.  Twelve  of  the  15  churches 
reported  baptisms.  Fort  Madison  had  a  precious  revival 
in  March  and  baptized  27.  They  have  finished  and  are 
occupying  the  basement  of  their  church  edifice.     The  name 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  287 

of  the  2d  Keokuk  Cliurcli  is  dropped.  It  -oras  estimated 
thiat  of  the  1202  members  in  the  Association  200  were  in  the 
Union  army.  Rev.  J.  Lewelling  was  pastor  in  1862  of  the 
Bethlehem  and  Jefferson  Churches.  In  1863  a  church  was 
organized  at  Rome.  The  name  of  the  Cedar  Church,  Yan- 
Buren  county,  was  changed  to  Bratton's  Grove.  The  Tip- 
pecanoe Church,  J.  M.  Wood  pastor,  was  admitted  .to 
fellowship.  This  was  afterwards  called  Locust  Grove. 
Pastor  J.  M.  Coggshell  of  West  Point  followed  many  of 
his  members  into  the  army  where  he  died,  October  29.  1863, 
at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  after  only  a  few  days  sickness. 
Rev.  T.  S.  Griffith,  four  years  pastor  at  Keokuk,  has  re- 
turned to  New  Jersey.  He  had  identified  himself  as  a  stir- 
ring man  and  an  untiring  worker,  with  all  our  Iowa  Baptist 
interests,  and  will  be  much  missed.  The  eminent  evangel- 
ist Morgan  Edwards  has  supplied  the  church  at  West 
Point.  An  incident  of  the  anniversary  in  1863  was  the 
baptism  of  14  happy  converts  in  the  Des  Moines  river  at 
Bonaparte,  the  fruits  of  a  revival  in  progress  in  an  adja- 
cent neighborhood.  Baptisms  reported  in  all  141,  mem- 
bers 1290. 

The  report  in  1864  was  again  encouraging.  A  number 
of  the  churches  reported  revivals.  The  First  African  Bap- 
tist Church,  of  Keokuk,  was  received.  The  Keokuk  Asso- 
ciation had  at  that  time  the  largest  membership  of  any 
Association  in  the  State.  Rev.  G.  J.  Johnson  resigned  at 
Fort  Madison  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  C.  F.  Tolman. 
Rev.  J.  T.  Westover  also  became  pastor  at  Keokuk.  In 
1865  Rev.  J.  Lewelling  is  found  preaching  at  Farm- 
ington,  M.  Sutton  at  Harrisburg,  P.  Inskeep  at  Mt.  Zion, 
S.  Pickard  at  Jefferson  and  G.  W.  Shelton  at  the  Keokuk 
African  Chnrcli.  The  Locust  Grove  Church,  formerly 
called  Tippecanoe,  was  the  home  of  Hannah  Beard,  and 
the  scene  of  her  first  successful  effort  at  supplying  desti- 


288  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

tute  churches  with  meeting  houses.  Here  was  converted 
her  brother  Rev.  Wm.  Beard,  since  an  active  minister  of 
the  Word. 

About  this  time  the  writer  formed  the  acquaintance  of 
anotlier  name  that  is  a  green  spot  in  the  memory  of  a  Mis- 
sionary Agent.  A  letter  was  received  from  Denmark, 
Iowa,  bearing  these  words,  "Dear  Brother,  inclosed  find 
$25.00  for  the  State  Convention,  to  be  credited  to  the  Lord 
Jesus,"  and  signed  L.  M.  W lilting.  Brother  Whiting 
kept  a  small  dairy  a  few  miles  from  Denmark.  He  said 
"a  few  cows  belonging  to  the  Lord,"  and  he  was  accus- 
tomed to  give  his  entire  income,  above  a  certain  amount 
for  current  expenses,  usually  in  $25.00  contributions,  to 
benevolent  objects.  He  became  afterward  an  active  min- 
ister of  the  Gospel. 

Tlie  anniversaries  for  the  next  half-decade,  1866  to  1870, 
were  held  at  Fort  Madison,  Pilot  Grove,  Rome,  Harrisburg 
and  Bonaparte.  The  Moderators  were  J.  T.  Westover, 
four  years,  and  W.  H.  Lane,  one.  Clerks,  D.  T.  Brown, 
W.  H.  Turton,  W.  A.  Clark,  Charles  Hubb.ell  and  Rufus 
Hubbard.  The  introductory  sermons  were  preached  by  L. 
Frescoln,  J.  Trevitt,  W.  G.  Johnson  and  W.  C.  Pratt,  all 
in  the  order  named. 

In  1866  Brother  Tolman  had  resigned  at  Fort  Madison. 
A  church  had  been  organized  at  Salem,  29  members,  D. 
Simons,  pastor.  Rev.  J.  C.  Burkholder  was  pas- 
tor at  Bonaparte,  L.  Frescoln  at  Glasgow,  R.  C. 
Hixon  as  Union,  W.  G.  Johnson  at  Jefferson  and  John 
Trevitt  at  West  Point.  A  good  degree  of  revival  charac- 
terized the  year,  102  baptisms  were  reported  and  1,567 
members.  "Two  of  the  churches  have  completed  houses 
of  worship,  and  two  others  are  in  process  of  construction, 
one    of    which,    when    completed,    will    be    the    best    in 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  289 

Southern  Iowa,''  so  wrote  Rev.  J.  T.  Westover.  The  house 
referred  to  as  the  best  was  that  being  erected  by  liis  own 
beloved  church  in  Keokuk. 

In  1867  Rev.  John  Packer  appears  as  pastor  at  Fort 
Madison,  and  J.  C.  Carey,  of  the  First  African  Church,  at 
Keokuk,  and  the  last  named  church  reports  43  baptisms; 
Pastor  Hixon  at  Charleston  25,  and  a  new  organization  at 
Clay  Grove  12;  First  Keokuk  reports  17;  Pilot  Grove  22; 
String  Prairie  12;  Warren  9,  and  Croton  9.  Rev.  W.  G. 
Johnson  was  pastor  at  Warren  and  Croton.  The  whole 
number  of  baptisms  was  189,  in  21  churches  with  10  pastors 
and  1,666  members.  The  Clay  Grove  and  Croton  Churches 
were  received  in  1879  and  Bethlehem  and  Union  disap- 
pear. The  Keokuk  Association  has  still  the  largest  mem- 
bersliip  in  the  State,  the  Davenport  coming  next  with  1,532. 

In  1868  the  Pleasant  Hill  and  Birmingham  Churches 
were  received.  Rev.  G.  H.  Berr}'  was  preaching  at  Pleas- 
ant Hill  (post  office  Rome)  and  at  Bratton's  Grove,  S. 
Pickard  at  Charleston  and  Mt.  Zion,  Wm.  Potts  at  Clay 
Grove,  H.  Burnett  at  Locust  Grove,  J.  T.  Milner  at  Pilot 
Grove  and  Rev.  John  Trevitt  at  West  Point,  where  he  had 
been  pastor  three  years.  Baptisms  in  1868,  114.  Among 
the  number  were  12  at  Salem,  who  were  immersed  by  the 
writer  in  a  meeting  at  that  place,  of  which  grateful  men- 
tion is  made  in  a  previous  chapter. 

In  1869  the  Hebron  Church  was  received,  G.  H.  Berry, 
pastor.  Rev.  H.  McAllister  was  pastor  of  the  Keokuk 
African  Church  and  reported  78  baptized.  Rev.  J.  H. 
Delano  was  dispensing  the  Word  at  Charleston,  W.  C. 
Pratt  at  Denmark  and  R.  F.  Gray  at  Fort  Madison.  The 
Association  now  takes  the  second  place  in  number  of 
members,  having  1,678  while  Cedar  Valley  has  1,851. 

In  1870  Rev.  J.  T.  Westover  has  closed  his  seven  years' 


290  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

paetorate  at  Keokuk  and  gone  to  take  charge  of  tlie  North 
Baptist  Church,  Chicago.  He  is  followed  at  Keokuk  by 
Rev.  S.  K.  Leavitt,  of  Indiana,  who  recently  left  the  bar 
for  the  pulpit.  Rev.  John  Trevitt  resigned  a  four  of  five 
years'  pastorate  at  West  Point.  Pastor  W.  G.  Johnson 
has  been  supplying  Bonaparte,  with  other  points,  for  two 
or  three  years.  A  church  has  been  formed  at  Dowd's  Sta- 
tion, J.  L.  Cole,  pastor.  One  hundred  and  forty-five  bap- 
tisms were  reported.  From  1871  to  3875  the  anniversaries 
were  held  at  Glasgow,  Charleston,  Salem,  Denmark  and 
Keokuk.  Moderator:  W.  H.  Lane,  two  years,  S  Pickard, 
E.  C.  Cadey  and  W.  C.  Pratt.  Clerks:  Royal  N.  Joy,  W. 
H.  Turton  W.  C.  Pratt,  R.  Hubbard  and  Turton  again. 

The  year  1871  finds  Rev.  J.  Trevitt  preaching  at  Bona- 
parte, E.  Anderson  at  Denmark,  following  W.  C.  Pratt, 
who  soon  succeeded  Brother  Trevitt  at  Bona- 
parte, W.  Young  at  Charleston,  D.  C.  Adams  at 
Fort  Madison,  J.  H.  Miller  at  Dowd's  Station,  D.  Moore  ar 
Pleasant  Hill,  and  E.  Crane  at  Glasgow.  Baptisms  only 
57.  For  the  first  time  in  nine  years  and  the  second  in  the 
history  of  the  Keokuk  Association  the  number  of  baptisms 
falls  below  100.  In  1872  Rev.  H.  L.  Field  began  preaching 
at  West  Point  and  D.  D.  Proper  at  Pilot  Grove.  A  great 
revival  has  broken  out  again  and  271  baptisms  are  reported 
and  1,765  members,  a  gain  over  the  previous  year  of  420. 
In  1873  D.  C.  Adams  was  succeeded  at  Fort  Madison 
by  Brother  E.  E.  Cadey,  and  Brother  Leavitt  at  Keokuk 
by  Rev.  F.  D.  Bland,  who  also  came  from  Indiana.  Pas- 
tor Leavitt  went  to  take  charge  of  one  of  the  churches  at 
Cincinnati.  A  Colored  church  appeared  at  Fort  Madison 
in  1874,  and  the  Glasgow  Church  did  not  report.  Rev.  S. 
H.  Worcester,  of  Ottumwa,  was  supplying  at  Dowd's  Sta- 
tion. In  1875  Pastor  Bland  has  been  succeeded  at  Keokuk 
by  Rev.  S.  Washington,  J.  B.  Edmonson  is  preaching  at 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  291 

Harrisbm-o-  and  W.  N.  Whitaki^r  at  West  Point.  The 
next  five  years,  1876  to  1880,  the  Association  met  at  Harris- 
bnrg,  Glasgow,  Fort  Madison,  Farmington  and  Charles- 
ton.    Rev.  Arthur  Stott  was  clerk  all  these  years. 

In  1876  Rev.  J.  W.  Hough  had  become  pastor  at  Den- 
mark, and  was  Moderator  of  the  meeting  at   Harrisburg. 

Brother   Stott   was   at  Fort   Madison.      Rev,  J. 

Lewelling,  who  began  his  ministry  in  this  Asso- 
ciation in  1862,  and  who  was  for  several  years  pastor  at 
Denmark,  removed  about  this  time  to  the  West,  and  is 
either  in  Kansas  or  Nebraska.  In  1877  some  of  the  churches, 
notably  Big  Mound  and  Harrisburg,  were  blessed  with 
revivals,  but  there  was  little  change  in  the  working  forces. 
Brother  Stott  removed  in  1878  from  Fort  Madison  to  Den- 
mark, succeeding  Brother  J.  W.  Hough  who*  removed  west 
to  Prescott,  Iowa.  Rev.  S.  Washington  resigns  at  Keokuk 
after  three  or  four  years'  service,  and  W.  C.Pratt,  after  five 
or  six  years  of  faithful  labor  at  Bonaparte  goes  to  Monroe, 
Iowa.  R.  P.  McAuley  is  preaching  at  Charleston,  and  C. 
R.  Workman  at  Pilot  Grove.  Revs.  Wm.  G.  Johnson  and 
Wm.  Young  were  very  successful  in  revival  work.  In  1879 
Rev.  C.  H.  Moscrip  is  found  settled  at  Keokuk,  Rev.  L.  S. 
Livermore  preaching  at  Bonaparte  and  Harrisburg,  and 
Wm.  H.  Turton  to  his  old  charge  at  Farmington.  But  in 
1880  Rev.  D.  L.  Clouse  occupies  Bonapart  and  Harrisburg. 
Rev.  Thomas  Powell  is  supplying  Charleston,  Fort  Madi- 
son and  West  Point. 

The  Association  met  in  1881  at  Bonaparte.  Brother 
Stott  still  continues  to  act  as  clerk.  Brother  William 
100  1  Young  had,  during  the  year,  been  cut  oft'  by 
death.  He  had  been  very  active  in  evangelistic 
work.  Rev.  Thomas  Powell  was  also  called  up  higher. 
Brother  Powell  had  impressed   himself  upon  the  people, 


292  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

by  his  brilliant  qualities  of  mind,  and  consecration  of 
heart  and  life,  as  few  ministers  are  able  to  do  in  so  brief  a 
time.  At  this  time,  1881,  thechurches  were  more  than  usu- 
ally well  manned  for  work,  in  their  pulpits,  and  gave  evi- 
dence of  solid  work,  though  there  was  little  marked 
progress  in  spiritual  results.  In  1882  the  Association  met 
at  Denmark.  Rev.  D.  L.  Clouse  had  become  pastor  at  Bo- 
naparte, and  was  made  clerk.  Rev  Elihu  Gunn,  D.  D., 
who  so  long  and  faithfully  served  his  generation  in  south- 
eastern Iowa  in  the  early  days,  but  has  been  laboring  in 
Kansas  for  the  last  twelve  years,  has  returned  and  is  pas- 
tor at  Fort  Madison.  Keokuk,  under  the  lead  of  pastor  C. 
H.  Moscrip,  is  vigorously  pushing  the  work.  The  Associ- 
ation adopted  a  "Xew  Constitution,  and  Articles  of  Incor- 
poration,"  and  they  were  duly  signed  by  one  member 
from  each  church  represented,  acknowledged  before  Geo. 
F.  Hilton,  a  Notary  Public  of  Lee  county,  and  recorded  as 
required  by  law.  This  is  the  only  instance  within  our 
knowledge  of  an  Association  becoming  an  incorporated 
body  capable  of  owning  property,  suing  and  being  sued, 
etc.  The  principle  object  was  probably  the  control  of  a 
Ministers^  Widoics  and  Orpliaiu  Fund,  which  at  the  last 
report  in  1886  amounted  to  s474. 65. 

The  Anniversary  in  1883  was  at  Keokuk,  Rev.  E. 
Gunn  wasModerator,  D.  L.  Clouse  clerk.  Rev.  Wm.  Beard 
was  preaching  at  Bethel  (formerly  Big  Mound), 
H.  R.  Yolton  at  Fairview,  and  J.  Lee  at  Harris- 
burg.  A  year  of  prosperit}^  180  baptisms  and  1263  members. 
The  Association  leads  in  the  state  in  the  number  of 
baptisms.  The  church  at  Keokuk,  with  325  members, 
makes  an  excellent  record,  especially  in  Sunday  School 
work.  The  average  attendance  at  the  Home  School  is  239, 
and  at  the  two  Mission  Schools  respectively^  116  and  147, 
making  a  total  Sunday  School  attendance  under  direction 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  293 

of  this  cluircli  of  502.  Tliey  report  76  baptisms.  In  1884: 
the  Anniversary  was  at  Harrisburg,  Arthur  Stott  Moderator, 
C.  L.  Custer  clerk.  Rev.  D.  L.  Cloiise  closed  his  labors  at 
Bonaparte  and  removed  to  Grand  Junction.  Rev.  C.  L. 
Custer  is  preaching  at  Charleston  and  H.  H.  Depperman  at 
West  Point.  Brother  Stott  reports  44  baptized  at  Denmark, 
Gunn  25  at  Fort  Madison,  and  Beard  24  at  Warren  and  5 
at  Bethel.  Rev.  C.  H.  Moscrip,  pastor  at  Keokuk  since 
1879,  has  resigned  and  gone  to  -Jerseyville,  111.  His  one 
pastorate  of  five  years  in  Iowa  has  earned  for  him  a  large 
place  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  brethren,  and  the 
growth  witnessed  at  Keokuk  under  his  ministry  makes  for 
him  an  honorable  record.  Brother  Lee  has  been  pastor  at 
Salem  ten  years  and  Stott  at  Denmark  six.  Met  in  1885  at 
Salem.  Officers  the  same.  A  year  of  changes.  We  note 
Brother  Gunn  from  Fort  Madison  to  his  old  and  "first" 
Iowa  *'love,"  the  1st  Baptist  Church  of  Keokuk.  Brother 
Stott  from  Denmark  to  Bedford,  Iowa.  Rev.  F.  M.  Coffey 
is  preaching  at  Farmington  and  Bethel,  J.  A.  Stanley  at 
Croton,C.  R.  Workman  at  Glasgow,  and  E.  M.  Jones  afFort 
Madison.  Except  Brother  Lee  at  Harrisburg,  old  pasto- 
rates are  terminated  and  new  relations  formed.  Brother 
Caster  has  been  ordained  at  Bonaparte.  In  1886  the 
Association  met  at  Farmington,  J.  Lee  Moderator,  C.  L. 
Custer  still  clerk.  Brother  Gunn,  owing  to  continued 
poor  health  has  been  compelled  to  give  up  work  at 
Keokuk  and  repair  to  his  home  and  family  in  Kansas. 
Brother  Jones  goes  from  Fort  Madison  to  Morgan  Park, 
and  thus  the  pulpits  in  the  two  principal  cities  are  left 
vacant.  Brother  Coffe}^  at  Farmington  has  suspended 
active  work  for  a  time,  on  account  of  impaired  health,  and 
Rev.  G.  C.  Goodenough  who  resides  here  is  supplying. 

The  churches  in  this  Association  are  situated  chiefly  in 
Lee,  Yan  Buren  and  Henry  counties,  and  in  common  with 


294 


HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 


other  localities  in  the  older  parts  of  the  state,  their  strength 
has  been  diminished  by  emigration  to  the  west.  Eight  of 
the  churches  have  less  than  fifty  members  each,  six  have 
between  50  and  100,  and  four  have  over  100.  The  18  church- 
es report  1342  members.  During  tlie  first  thirteen  years  of 
this  history  from  1860  to  1872  the  number  of  baptisms  fell 
below  100  only  twice,  and  in  1861  and  1872  they  were  above 
200,  The  largest  number  in  any  one  year  was  in  1872,  271. 
In  the  fourteen  years  since  1872  the  number  baptized  has 
been  100  or  over  but  four  times,  and  the  largest  in  any  one 
year  was  in  1883 — 180.  The  lowest  number  of  members 
reported  any  year  since  1861  was  in  1882 — 1069.  The  high- 
est number  was  in  1872 — 1765.  For  the  last  five  years  there 
has  been  a  steady  but  slow  increase,  while  for  the  ten 
years'  previous  there  had  been  a  steady  decline. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 


Burlington  Association — North  ])ivision  of  the  Old 
Des    Moines— Prosperity  and  Again  De- 
cline— A  Circumscribed  Field. 
1860  to  1886. 

HEN  the  Des  Moines  Association  dissolved  in 
1850  the  churches  in  the  North  Division 
formed  the  Burlington  Association.  Its  first 
meeting  was  held  at  Mount  Pleasant  in  1860. 
Rev.  L.  B.  Allen  preached  the  introductory 
sermon.  Isaac  Leonard  Moderator,  P.  P. 
Bishop  clerk.  There  were  12  churches  reporting  68  bap- 
tisms and  1087  members.  The  churches  were  1st 
Burlington  213  members  ;  2d  Burlington  125;  Co- 
lumbus City  80;  Danville  45;  Flint  River  24;  Jefferson 
125;  Marion  18;  Mt.  Pleasant  110;  New  London  56;  Pis- 
gah  128  ;  Richmond  62  ;  Wapello  29  ;  and  Washington  72. 
The  pastors  were  W.  R.  Woodruff,  Columbus  City;  J.  B. 
Knight,  Danville  ;  Isaac  Leonard,  Pisgah  and  Flint  River; 
J.  Lee,  Jefferson  ;  Charles  Thompson,  MarioB,  Washing- 
tom  county  ;  P.  P.  Bishop,  Mt.  Pleasant  and  D.  C.  Maybin, 
Washington.  In  1861  the  Association  met  at  Jefferson. 
Brother  Leonard  preached  the  sermon,  H.  Burnett  Moder- 
ator, A.  F.  Will«y  clerk.    The  Huron  and  Ononwa  church - 


1860. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

es  had  been  ors;anized.  and  2d  Biirlinojton  disbanded.  Rev. 
A.  F.  Willey.  pastor  at  1st  Burlington.  Rev.  Moses  Par- 
ker was  reported  pastor  at  Huron  and  J.  Warren  New 
London.  Mr.  Maybin  has  left  Washington  and  Father 
Thompson  is  preaching  there  and  at  the  Marion  Church. 
In  1862  New  London  was  the  place  of  meeting.  Moderator, 
Brother  Gunn  who  has  assumed  pastoral  charge  at  Mt. 
Pleasant,  and  A.  F.  Willey  clerk.  Brother  Willey  at 
Burlington  has  been  per^nitted  to  baptize  45,  and  reports  77 
additions  in  all.  Rev.  Charles  Thompson  is  preaching  at 
Richmond  and  Washington.  Rev.  E.  Russ  has  become 
pastor  at  Danville.  Morgan  Edwards  is  preaching  at  New 
London.  The  Brighton  Church  was.  received  from  the  Os- 
kaloosa  Association.  The  "gathering  was  large,  and  the 
exercises  throughout  were  harmonious  and  profitable." 

Met  at  Columbus  City  in  1863,  Isaac  Leonard  Moderator, 

H.    H.    Hawley   of    Burlington    clerk.      Brother   Willey 

preached  the  sermon.     The  Davis  Creek  Church 

-1    O  (^  Q 

was  received  to  membership.  Baptisms  reported 
108,  members  1086.  A  "war  record"  was  published  in  the 
minutes  by  vote  of  the  Association,  showing  that  "Baptists 
have  not  been  behind  others  in  their  loyalty  and  self- 
sacrificing  devotion  to  the  best  government  on  earth,  and 
in  their  determination  to  preserve,  intact,  that  glorious 
heritage  of  liberty  which  our  fathers  purchased  with  their 
blood  and  bequeathed  to  us."  We  may  learn  hence,  how 
much  our  brethren  and  sisters  of  that  day  had  to  burden 
their  hearts  and  minds,in  addition  to  the  care  of  the  Churches 
and  the  benevolence  of  the  denomination.  We  wonder 
that  they  accomplished  so  much,  and  yet  it  would  be  seen 
by  a  comparison  that  the  contributions  to  our  benevolent 
societies  were  more  on  the  average  than  they  have  been  in 
times  of  peace.  The  Obituary  record  mentions  the  death 
near  Dodgeville,  Iowa,  of   Rev.  Jonah  Todd,  the  first  Mod- 


J.  W.  BURDETTE. 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  297 

erator  of  flio  Dos  Moines  Association.  Also  of  Deacon 
Anioii  (JliambeiJain  of  Burlington  and  Abijali  Fisher  of 
Eriglitoii.  It  had  been  the  one  desire  of  Father  Fisher,  as 
every  one  called  him,  to  live  to  see  a  Baptist  Church  at 
Brighton  with  a  house  of  worship  of  its  own.  He  lived  to 
see  the  beginning  of  the  end.  "There  is  our  meeting 
house,''  said  he  to  the  writer  on  our  first  visit  to  Brighton, 
pointing  at  the  same  time  to  a  pile  of  stone — a  wagon  load 
or  two— on  a  vacant  lot  near  by.  In  a  few  months  he  was 
promoted  to  a  better  "  House  not  made  with  hands,  eternal 
in  the  heavens." 

The  Fifth  Anniversary  was  at  Danville,  in  1864.  Rev. 
Prof.  Allen,  of  Burlington,  Moderator,  N.  Littler,  clerk. 
Brother  Gunn  preached  the  sermon.  Two  new  churches 
were  received.  The  Benton  Church,  opposite  Oquawka,  in 
the  Mississippi  bottom,  the  fruit  of  a  "remarkable  revival, 
in  which  more  than  a  hundred  were  converted,"  Rev.  Nor- 
man Parks,  pastor.  "The  other,"  wrote  Brother  Gunn, 
"the  fruit  of  the  rebellion  in  Missouri."  This  was  the 
African  Church  of  Mount  Pleasant,  J.  D.  Wilson  was  pas- 
tor. Rev.  J.  W.  Coffman,  was  preaching  at  Davis  Creek. 
Brother  Willey  has  closed  his  labors  at  Burlington.  Rev. 
W.  E.  James  was  preaching  at  Pisgah.  The  Fairfield 
Church,  Brother  Leonard,  pastor,  was  received  from  the 
Oskaloosa  Association.  Baptisms  reported,  171;  members 
1,264.  Brother  Gunn  wrote  of  this  occasion;  "The  meet- 
ing at  Danville  was  of  deep  interest.  Frequent  seasons  of 
prayer  and  conference  were  held.  The  people  of  God  were 
much  revived,  one  soul  at  least  was  hopefully  converted 
and  many  were  led  to  exclaim,  'It  is  good  to  be  here!' 
Surely  the  fruit  of  that  meeting  must  be  visible  before  the 
year  shall  close." 

Washino'ton  was  the  church  which  entertained  in  1865. 


1 


298  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Moderator,  E.  Gunn,  clerk,  Littler.  E.  Russ  preached  the 
sermon.  Rev.  D.  F.  Carnahan  is  pastor  at  Bur- 
lington,  J.  C.  Burkholder  at  Brighton,  and  C. 
Darby  at  Fairfield.  Rev.  W.  R.  Woodruff  has  held  the 
ground  at  Columbus  City  since  1851.  The  church  express 
anxiety  concerning  his  health.  The  Benton  Church  num- 
bers 60.  Some  one  wrote  about  this  time  "Rev.  John  E. 
Clough  and  his  wife  have  gone  out  from  us  to  India,  the 
first  Baptist  missionaries  from  our  Association  and  State 
on  heathen  soil.  "  Brother  Clough  is  a  member  of  the  1st 
Baptist  Church  in  Burlington. 

The  Association  met  in  1866  at  Richmond.  Brother 
Carnahan  preached  the  introductory  sermon  and  was  cho- 
sen Moderator,  and  N.  Littler  clerk.  Some  of  the 
churches  have  enjoyed  special  tokens  of  divine 
favor.  Fairfield  reports  37  baptized  and  60  additions  in  all. 
Brother  Darby  is  still  pastor  and  they  are  building  a  neat 
chapel.  About  this  time  Hon.  M.  A.  McCoid  was  converted 
and  united  with  the  church  of  which  he  has  been  a  member 
since.  Burlington  2d  Church — the  fruit  of  a  revival 
among  the  colored  people,  report  17  baptized.  Rev.  John 
Warren  pastor.  Mt.  Pleasant  1st  church  16,  2d  Church — 
colored — 12,  Pisgah,  W.  E.  James  pastor,  24,  and  Washing- 
ton, Father  Thompson,  20  baptisms.  Rev.  E.  Ward  is 
preaching  at  Richmond  and  Davis  Creek,  D.  W.  Shacklee 
at  Huron,  and  in  the  west  part  of  Henry  county  a  faithful 
little  band  of  Swedes,  who  have  been  liolding  on  for  several 
years  alone,  have  Rev.  L.  L.  Frisk  for  their  pastor,  and 
are  received  into  the  Association.  Rev.  L.  Frescoln  is 
preaching  at  the  Jefferson  Church.  Churches  18,  pastors 
12,  baptized  254,  total  membership  1447.  Amount  of  be- 
nevolent contributions  $1240.35.    For  the  Convention,  $264. 

Met  at  Fairfield.     Rev.  E.  Gunn   preached  the  annual 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  299 

sermon  and  was  elected  Moderator;  N.  Littler  clerk.  Rev. 
D.  F.  Carnalian  having  resigned  at  Burlington, 
Rev.  J.  B.  Fuller  has  become  pastor.  Brighton 
has  settled  Rev.  D.  Morse  as  pastor.  Rev.  W.  E.  James, 
pastor  at  Pisgah,  is  away  on  leave  of  absence,  and  they  are 
anxiously  praying  that  he  may  be  restored  to  them  in 
health.  At  Columbus  City  Rev.  W.  R.  Woodruff,  who  has 
so  faithfully'  served  the  church  as  pastor  for  17  or  18  years, 
has  resigned  on  account  of  ill  health,  and  Rev.  J.  L.  Cole 
is  their  pastor.  Danville  is  without  a  pastor  but  Rev.  S. 
West  settles  with  them  before  the  year  is  out.  Rev.  Rich- 
ard King  well  known  further  north  in  the  State,  and  des- 
tined to  be  favorably  and  well  known  here,  has  begun 
preaching  at  New  London.  Rev.  Charles  Thompson  hav- 
ing resigned  at  Washington,  where  he  has  faithfully  served 
the  church  twelve  years.  Rev.  A.  Pratt  has  settled  with 
them.  At  Richmond  Rev.  A.  C.  Sangster  of  Iowa  City  is 
administering  rich  gospel  food  to  the  church.  Father  Sang- 
ster is  an  English  Baptist,  and  possesses  a  mind  and  heart 
exceptionally  well  stored  with  knowledge  of  divine  things. 
More  than  one  night  did  the  way-faring  General  Mission- 
ary of  those  days  spend  with  this  old  Father  in  Israel,  lis- 
listening  to  his  profitable  talk.  The  pastor  at  Pisgah 
supplied  the  Benton  Church  a  part  of  the  time  and  in  con- 
nection with  the  labors  of  Rev.  Moses  Parker,  Colporteur 
of  the  American  Baptist  Pnblication  Society,  they  have 
been  blessed  and  14  have  been  baptized  into  their  fellow- 
ship. The  New  Sweden  Church  spoken  of  last  year,  in 
Henry  county,  report  24  baptisms  and  30  additions  in  all ; 
but  Rev.  L.  L.  Frisk  has  left  them  and  they  are  without 
a  pastor.  Churches,  18;  pastors,  14;  baptized,  102;  present 
membership,  1465;  contributions  to  the  Convention  this 
year  $417.34;  total  benevolence  reported  $1614.43.  It  is  a 
year  of  change  in  pastors,  but  of  activity  and  success  other- 


300  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

wise.     Thirteen   of   the  18  churches  have  meeting  houses. 

Met  with  the  1st  Baptist  Church  in   Burlington.     Rev. 

C.  Darby  preached  the  sermon  and  was  elected  Moderator, 

Prof.  Jas.  Henderson  cleric.     A  church  at   Ains- 

-|    Q  «  O 

worth  organized  in  May  last,  was  received  with 
14  members.  The  year  has  been  one  of  faithful  holding 
on  but  not  much  gain.  Several  pastors  settled  last  year 
did  not  stick,  and  one  or  two  have  resigned  who  have  been 
longer  on  the  field.  Rev.  W.  E.  James  is  missed  at  Pisgah 
and  Rev.  S.  Brimhall  is  their  pastor.  Rev.  P.  Morse  left 
Brighton  and  they  are  destitute  and  much  discouraged  by 
reason  of  the  influence  the  Adventists  are  exerting  in  the 
community.  We  remember  visiting  Brighton  during  this 
infliction,  and  it  was  one  of  the  worst  of  the  efforts  of  that 
aggressive  people  to  build  up  by  tearing  down  other  inter- 
ests, and  for  a  time  wonderfully  successful,  "carrying 
away"  many  people  with  them.  Rev.  E,  Ward  is  preach- 
ing at  Richmond  where  Father  Sangster  was  last  year,  and 
Rev.  A.  Pratt  is  succeeded  by  H.  A.  Barden  at  Washing- 
ton. Two  of  the  members  of  the  Richmond  Church,  J.  W. 
and  J.  P.  Coffman  are  attending  the  Baptist  Theological 
Seminary  at  Chicago.  There  are  now  19  churches,  10  pas- 
tors, 89  baptisms  reported,  and  a  total  membership  of  1485. 
In  1869  the  anniversary  was  at  Mt.  Pleasant.  J.  B.  Fuller 
preacher  and  Moderator,  R.  King  clerk.  We  find  this 
year  A.  W.  Sutton  at  Ainsworth,  W.  R.  Woodruff  in 
charge  again  at  Columbus  City.  Brother  King  succeeding 
S.  West  at  Danville,  where  he  is  to  make  his  home.  Rev. 
J.  Warren  is  preaching  at  Jefferson,  *  Rev.  H.  Burnett  at 
Pisgah,  and  Arthur  Stott  at  Washington.  Baptisms  121, 
of  which  number  Brother  Gunn  reports  43  at  Mt.  Pleasant. 
Rev.  E.  Burkett  of  the  Burlington  (colored)  Church  died 
during  the  year.  The  liquidation  of  a  debt,  and  the  general 
prosperity  of  the  church  attest  his  fidelity  as  a  minister  of 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  301 

Christ.  For  the  next  five  j^ears,  1870  to  1874,  the  Association 
held  its  anniversaries  at  Danville,  Pisgah,  New  London,  Jef- 
ferson and  Spring  Creek.  The  Moderators  were  Eber  Crane, 
R.  King,  W.  L.  Brown,  R.  W.  Benton,  and 'A.  E.  VanMe- 
ter.  The  clerks  were  A.  E.  VanMeter  the  first  three  years 
of  this  period  and  S.  A.  Flanders  the  last  two.  The  preach- 
ers of  the  introdnctory  sermons  were  W.  H.  Lane,  L.  W. 
Hayhurst,  W.  L.  Brown,   R.  W.  Benton  and  J.  H.  Storms. 

This  is  the  sixth  time  that  the  Danville  Church  has  en- 
tertained its  Association  since  the  organization  of  tlie  Des 

Moines  Association.     The   organization  of  the 
1  RVD 

Washington  Association  has  reduced  the  mem- 
bership and  territory  of  this,  making  it  now  one  of  the 
smaller  bodies  of  this  class  in  the  State.  Rev.  L.  W.  Hay- 
hurst, who  is  connected  with  Burlington  LTniversity  has 
succeeded  J.  B.  Fuller  as  pastor.  J.  C.  Cary  is  serving  the 
Colored  Church  in  Burlington,  H.  H.  Parks  at  Brighton,  J. 
Lee  at  Jefferson,  W.  Webster  at  2d  Mt.  Pleasant  (colored) 
and  T.  J.  Penney  at  Pisgah.  The  Mount  Carmel  Church 
was  received.  In  1871  we  note  the  introduction  of  the 
South  Hill  Church,  Burlington,  with  28  members,  and 
Spring  Creek,  six  miles  west  of  that  city,  with  35.  Pastor 
Gunn  has  closed  nine  years'  faithful  labor  at  Mt.  Pleasant, 
and  is  succeeded  by  Rev.  W.  L.  Brown.  A  house  had  been 
erected  by  the  untiring  efforts  of  Brother  Gunn,  which  is 
the  best  in  the  place,  but  adverse  influences  make  it  a  great 
struggle  for  the  church  to  maintain  the  position  thus  hoped 
to  be  given  it.  The  New  Sweden  Church  noticed  in  1865,  L. 
L.  Frisk  then  pastor,  has  been  reported  in  the  minutes  of  re- 
cent years  without  change  until  now.  Rev,  Peter  Carlson 
is  pastor  and  four  have  been  baptized  and  they  report  30 
members.  Fairfield  reports  C.  B.  Egan  as  pastor.  In  1872 
Rev.  J.  E.  Hopper  has  appeared  as  pastor  at  Burlington, 
J.  R.  Shanafelt  at  Fairfield,  J.  W.  Coffman  at  New  London, 


302  HISTOKICAL   SKETCHES 

and  J.  B.  Faller  is  supplying  South  Hill  Burlington,  and 
D.  Simons  is  at  Beulali,  a  new  organization  in  the  northeast 
part  of  Henry  county  on  "Canaan  Prairie."  In  1873  Broth- 
er Brown  has  resigned  at  Mt.  Pleasant  and  removed  to  Ot- 
tumwa.  J.  H.  Storms  has  succeeded  J.  R.  Shanafelt  at 
Fairfield,  and  A.  F.  Sharpnack  is  at  Spring  Creek.  A  year 
of  cheering  revival  work.  Burlington  reports  42  baptisms, 
Danville  30,  1st  Mt.  Pleasant  33,  Mt.  Pleasant  (colored)  15, 
New  London  16,  and  Spring  Creek  and  Fairfield  each  6; 
baptisms  in  all  153,  total  membership  1171;  a  gain  of  185. 
In  1874  J.  W.  Coff'man  has  resigned  his  two  years'  pastorate 
at  New  London.  G.  H.  Berry  is  supplying  Beulah,  E. 
Crane  at  Mt.  Carmel,  and  M.  Sutton  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  and 
the  Colored  Church  at  Mt.  Pleasant  has  A.  Colston  for  pas- 
tor, and  at  Burlington  G.  W.  Shelton. 

For  the  years  1875  to  1880  the  meetings  of  this  Associa- 
tion were  at  Mount  Carmel,  Pisgah,  Danville,  Burlington, 
Fairfield  and  Mount  Pleasant.  Introductory  sermons  were 
preached  by  R.  King,  Wm.  Wilder,  T.  J.  Penney,  J.  F. 
Merriam,  King  again,  and  E.  C.  Spinney,  D.  D.  Modera- 
tors, E.  A.  VanMeter,  King,  W.  W.  Perry,  and  A.  H. 
Stutsman.  Clerks,  L.  E.  Wortman,  W.  B.  Murray,  M.  A. 
McCoid,  F.  T.  Parsons,  and  B.  F.  Crane.  In  1875  we  are 
introduced  to  several  new  pastors.  J.  Frey  at  Fairfield,  h. 
M.  Berry  at  Mount  Pleasant,  B.  F.  Goldsby,  from  Western 
Iowa,  at  New  London  and  Mount  Carmel,  George  Chambers 
of  the  Burlington  Colored  Church  and  G.  H.  Berry  supply- 
ing Beulah  and  Jefferson.  The  Benton  Church,  beginning 
in  1864  with  the  baptism  of  over  100,  has  dwindled  down 
to  5  members  and  is  practically  extinct.  The  same  is  true 
of  the  Huron  Church. 

In  1876  we  find  Rev.  J.  F.  Merriam  pastor  at  Mount 
Pleasant,  M.  T.  Lamb  at  Spring  Creek,  and  I.  H.  Denton  at 
New  London.     Rev.    A.    F.   Sharpnack  had  been   two   or 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  303 

three  years  at  Spring  Creek  and  is  succeeded  by  Brother 
Lamb.  The  Morning  Sun  Church  was  received 
in  1877,  J.  D.  Stapp  pastor.  A  committee  made 
a  report  on  the  Benton  and  Huron  Churches,  by  which  it 
appears  that  the  Benton  Church,  uniting  with  this  body  in 
1865,  made  no  report  after  1867  when  14  baptisms  were  re- 
ported ;  that  including  the  103  baptized  the  year  of  its 
organization,  117  persons  have  been  immersed  into  this 
organization,  and  but  three  members  can  now  be  found. 
That  the  Huron  Church  united  with  the  Association  in 
1861  with  16  members;  reported  6  baptisms  and  24  mem- 
bers in  1862,  and  7  baptisms  and  30  members  in  1864;  that 
they  have  made  no  report  for  13  years,  and  only  4  members 
can  now  be  found.  In  all  29  persons  have  been  baptized 
in  connection  with  this  field.  Both  of  these  names  were 
thereupon  dropped  from  the  records  of  the  Association. 
How  many  of  the  persons  baptized  on  these  two  fields  were 
genuine  converts,  how  many  have  removed  to  other  fields 
and  are  fulfilling  their  baptismal  vows,  and  how  many 
have  gone  to  join  the  church  triumphant  above,  none  can 
tell.  But  we  have  here  an  illustration  of  the  losses  to  our 
statistical  and  historic  registers  that  are  continually  tak- 
ing place  in  the  same  way. 

The  report  on  the  state  of  religion  in  the  churches  this 
year  says,  among  other  excellent  suggestions  :  "There  has 
been  but  little  revival  in  our  churches,  (and  pastors  and 
people  will  grow  restless  as  soldiers  in  camp  with  nothing 
to  do.)  We  must  be  up  and  doing  the  will  of  the  Master 
or  we  die."  Mention  is  made  of  the  death  of  Rev.  John 
Warren,  with  a  number  of  others  in  the  Burlington  Church. 
The  Fairfield  Church,  under  the  lead  of  Rev.  James  Frey, 
have  built  a  good  meeting  house  and  parsonage,  but  they 
have  been  led  into  great  trouble  by  the  failure  of  a  con- 
tractor, and  greatly  need  christian  sympathy  and  prayer. 


304  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

The  pastor  has  resigned.  Churches  14,  pastors  9,  baptisms 
80,  other  additions  57,  total  membership  1108.  Rev.  H. 
W.  Thiele  has  succeeded  pastor^ Frey  at  Fairfield.  Joel 
H.  Austin  is  preaching  at  Spring  Creek,  and  Rev.  J.  D. 
Stapp  at  Morning  Sun  and  Beulah,  W.  M.  Washington  at 
the  colored  church  Mount  Pleasant,  G.  H.  Berry  at  Jeffer- 
son, and  I.  H.  Denton  at  New  London  and  Mount  Carmel. 
In  1878  J.  E.  Hopper  has  resigned  at  Burlington  and  is 
succeeded  by  his  friend  Rev.  J.  C.  Hard.  Brother  Hopper 
served  the  church,  and  the  denomination  in  Iowa,  to  very 
great  acceptance  for  about  six  j^ears,  and  then  returned  to 
New  Brunswick.  His  cultured  mind,  his  genial  and  ex- 
cellent spirit,  and  his  valuable  counsels  will  long  be 
remembered  by  his  Iowa  brethren.  At  the  meeting  in 
1878  Rev.  E.  C.  Cady  reported  for  a  special  committee  on 
"History  of  the  Association,"  and  read  such  items  as  he 
had  been  able  to  gather,  all  of  which  was  referred  to  a 
committee  on  printing,  etc.,  but,  so  far  as  the  present 
gatherer  has  been  able  to  find  out,  that  was  the  end  of  the 
matter.  Gone,  we  suppose,  into  the  historical  waste  basket. 
In  1879  we  find  Rev.  H.  Shallenberger  preaching  at  Danville, 
J.  H.  Miller  at  Jefferson,  and  W.  A.  Welsher,  following 
Brother  Merriam,  at  Mount  Pleasant.  Rev.  T.  J.  Penney  is 
still  at  Pisgah,  but  6  of  the  11  churches  in  the  Association 
are  without  under  sheplierds. 

The  lamented  death  of  Dr.  Hurd  is  recorded  in  1880 
and  he  is  succeeded  by  Edwin  C.  Spinney,  D.  D.  The 
death  is  also  mentioned  of  Col.  John  S.  David, 
1880.  ^^  Burlington,  and  Deacon  P.  A.  Lee,  of  Mount 
Pleasant.  Brother  Lee,  as  one  of  the  most  devoted  and 
consecrated  burden-bearers  in  the  Mount  Pleasant  Church 
during  their  long  struggle  to  build  their  meeting  house 
and  maintain  their  ground  under  great  difficulties,  de- 
serves special  mention.     He  has  gone  to  a  well-earned  rest. 


OF    lOAVA    BAPTISTS.  305 

Rev.  R.  J.  Laiigridge  lias  succeeded  Rev.  W.  A.  Welslier 
as  pastor  at  Mount  Pleasant.  Rev.  J.  H.  Miller  is  preach- 
ing at  Beulah,  Mount  Carmel  and  New  London.  Fairfield 
and  Jefferson  report  no  pastors  and  Spring  Creek  and 
Morning  Sun  send  no  letters.  Rev.  E.  C.  Spinney,  the  new- 
pastor  at  Burlington,  comes  from  Concord,  New  Hamp- 
shire, but  he  is  not  a  stranger  in  Iowa,  having  spent  a 
number  of  years  as  pastor  at  Pella,  at  an  earlier  date. 
Rev.  W.  A.  Welsher,  late  pastor  at  Mount  Pleasant,  has 
gone  to  take  charge  of  the  church  at  Harlan,  Iowa,  in  the 
Council  Bluffs  Association. 

The  Twenty-second  Anniversary  took  place  with   the 
Pisgali  Baptist  Church.     Rev.  J.   H.  Miller,   Moderator, 

Rev.  George  A.  Hertzog,  clerk.  Rev.R.  J.  Lang- 
1  R  R 1 

ridge,  of  3fount  Pleasant,  preached  the  introduc- 
tory sermon  from  Isaiah  54:  2:  "Lengthen  thy  cords  and 
strengthening  thy  stakes."  Danville  mentioned  in  their 
letter  the  loss  by  death  of  Deacon  E.  Cady,  who  has  been 
an  active  member  of  that  church  for  forty-two  years.  But 
few  men  have  a  record  for  benevolence,  according  to  their 
means,  equal  to  that  of  "Father  Cady."  Few  meeting 
houses  or  other  Baptist  enterprises  anywhere  in  this  part 
of  Iowa  but  have  some  offering  from  him  registered 
within  their  walls.  Rev.  H.  Burnett,  of  Mount  Pleasant, 
"departed  this  life  January  8th,  1881,  aged  nearly  80 
years,"  for  38  years  connected  with  this  church.  Bur- 
lington reports  32  Baptisms;  Danville  5.  Rev.  R.  H. 
Tracy  is  preaching  for  the  Beulah  and  Jefferson  churches. 
After  an  interval  of  nearly  two  years  without  regular 
preaching  the  Fairfield  Church  have  procured  the  services 
of  Rev.  G.  A.  Hertzog,  and  are  somewhat  encouraged. 
Debt  gradually  diminishing,  having  received  timely  aid 
from  the  Home  Mission  Society  for  which  they  are  thank- 
ful.    This  Association  has  two  representatives  in  the  For- 


396  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

eign    Mission   field.       Rev.   John    E.    Clougli    and    Miss 
Norwood. 

Met  with  the  Danville  Church.  Rev.  G.  A.  Hertzog,  of 
Fairfield,  preached  the  introductory  sermon.     Rev.  E.  C. 

Spinney,  D.  D.,  Moderator,  G.  A.  Hertzog,  clerk. 

Rev.  H.  Shallenberger  closed  his  labors  with  the 
Danville  Church  last  April,  and  Rev.  S.  H.  Mitchell  has 
accepted  the  unanimous  'call  of  the  church  to  begin  his 
labors  with  this  meeting. 

The  South  Hill  Baptist  Church,  Burlington,  having  lost 
visibility  and  almost  its  property,  some  time  ago,  has  been 
redeemed  by  the  persistent,  cordial  and  unselfish  interest 
of  Dr.  E.  C.  Spinney,  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church, 
and  his  noble  wife,  the  property  and  the  Walnut  Street 
Baptist  Church  has  been  organized  and  duly  recognized 
by  a  council  of  brethren,  and  is  now  received  into  this 
body  with  61  members.  Rev.  C.  E.  Higgins  is  the  pastor. 
The  First  Church,  of  Burlington,  the  pastor  being  assisted 
by  the  evangelist,  Rev.  O.  L.  Leonard,  in  a  series  of  meet- 
ings, has  had  a  great  revival  and  reports  129  baptisms  and 
16  received  by  letter.  Rev.  R..H.  Tracy  has  been  ordained 
during  the  year  pastor  of  the  Beuiah  and  Mount  Carmel 
Churches,  and  the  latter  has  moved  its  meeting  house  to 
the  village  of  Yarmouth,  and  neatly  fitted  it  up.  The 
church  now  takes  the  name  of  the  Yarmouth  Church. 
The  Mount  Pleasant  Church,  since  their  last  letter  to  the 
Association,  has  been  led  in  a  strange  path.  On  the  ITtli 
of  June  their  beautiful  house  of  worship  was  laid  in  ruins 
by  a  cyclone.  "  It  seemed  like  a  crushing  blow  to  a  church 
already  weakened  by  the  losses  of  able  members  to  whom 
they  were  accustomed  to  look  for  help  in  all  undertakings 
of  the  church.  For  some  time  after  the  event  the  prospect 
of  rebuilding  seemed  hopeless,'  but ''waiting  the  indica- 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  307 

tion  of  Providence,  there  seemed  to  be  a  way  opened. 
The  Lord  raised  up  friends  who  were  not  themselves  con- 
nected with  the  church,  who  said  'go  forward  and  we  will 
help  you.'"  So  the  old  church,  weakened  and  afflicted,  are 
making  a  heroic  effort  to  maintain  the  ground  gained  by 
so  many  years  of  toil  and  sacrifice,  and  they  are  worthy  of 
the  sympathy  and  aid  they  ask.  There  are  now  in  the  Asso- 
ciation 11  churches,  7  pastors,  145  baptisms  reported  and  a 
total  membership  of  1,017.  The  baptisms,  it  will  be  seen, 
are  mostly  in  the  First  Burlington  Church.  Walnut 
Street  reports  one;  Fairfield  4;  Pisgah  4,  and  Yarmouth  7. 

The  Association  met  at  Yarmouth  Rev.  J.  R.  Murphy, 
D.  D.,  Moderator,  and  Rev.  A.  W.  Fuller  of  Burlington, 
.  clerk.     Rev.  C.  E.  Higgins   preached    the   intro- 

ductory sermon.  Rev.  T.  J.  Penney  of  Pisgah, 
after  serving  thirteen  years  as  .pastor  has  resigned  and  re- 
moved to  Nebraska,  and  the  Pisgah  Cliurch  are  without  an 
under  shepherd.  Rev.  A.  W.  Fuller  has  been  called  as 
assistant  pastor  of  the  1st  Burlington  Church.  Dr.  Spin- 
ney, under  the  double  labor  of  pastor  of  the  church  and 
president  of  Burlington  College,  has  broken  down  in  health 
and  is  now  east  seeking  restoration.  Many  prayers  are  con- 
tinually being  offered  in  his  behalf  that  he  may  be  com- 
pletely restored.  Rev.  J.  R.  Murphy,  D.  D.,  who  retired 
from  the  1st  Baptist  Church  Des  Moines  a  few  years  ago, 
and  settled  on  a  farm  near  Winterset  for  a  few  years  of 
rest,  has  been  restored  to  health,  and  has  been  fortunately 
secured  to  take  charge  of  the  arduous  work  of  building  up 
again  at  Mt.  Pleasant.  Rev.  C.  J.  Thompson  has  succeed- 
ed Brother  Higgins  at  Walnut  Street  Burlington,  and  Bro. 
Higgins  has  settled  at  Independence,  Iowa.  Rev.  E.  W. 
Hunt  is  pastor  at  Fairfield,  Rev.  G.  A.  Hertzog  having  re- 
signed to  take  charge  at  Creston.  The  writer  of  these 
sketches,  having  been  in  the   Association  just  one  year,  is 


308  HISTOKICAL    SKETCHES 

now  the  senior  pastor  in  the  Association  engaged  in  the 
work.  The  jeav  has  been  one  of  spiritual  dearth.  The 
only  baptisms  reported  are,  Beulah  4,  Burlington  1st  4, 
Walnut  Street  9,' and  Danville  5.  Churches  10,  pastors  6, 
baptisms  22,  total  membership  969.  Rev.  John  Wilson, 
recently  from  England  is  pastor  at  Yarmoutli.  The  Asso- 
ciation met  at  the  1st  Burlington  Church  in  1884.  S.  A. 
Marchant  of  of  Danville  clerk.  Not  much  advancement  to 
note  this  year.  Mt.  Pleasant  reports  11  baptisms,  Walnut 
Street  7,  and  Danville  2.  Dr.  Spinney  has  resigned  the 
pastorate  to  give  his  entire  time  and  energy  to  the  excel- 
lent work  he  is  doing  as  president  of  Burlington  College, 
and  Rev.  A.  W.  Fuller  is  now  pastor  in  full  charge  of  the 
1st  Burlington  Church.  Rev.  John  Wilson  pastor  at  Yar- 
mouth and  Beulah  died  during  the  year.  Rev.  S.  H.  Mitch- 
ell is  just  closing  his  labors  as  pastor  at  Danville.  This 
year  is  the  semi-centennial  of  the  organization  of  the  Dan- 
ville Church,  and  of  the  beginning  of  Baptist  work  in  Iowa. 
The  beginning  of  these  Historical  Sketches  of  Iowa  Bap- 
tists, is  the  only  effort  to  signalize  this  fiftieth  anniversary. 

Mt.  Pleasant  is  the  place  of  the  meeting  this  year.  J. 
W.  Burdette,  Moderator,  and  Rev.  C.  J.  Thompson  of  Wal- 
nut Street,  Burlington,  clerk.  Another  year  of 
meagre  spiritual  results.  M-ount  Pleasant  reports 
9  baptisms,  Fairfield  8,  Walnut  Street  5,  and  1st  Burlington 
1.  Churches  9,  pastors  5,  baptisms  23,  total  membership  932. 
Fairfield  and  1st  Burlington  are  without  pastors.  Rev.  A. 
W.  Fuller  becomes  pastor  at  Vinton,  Iowa.  Before  this 
sketch  closes,  a  singular  coincidence  of  returning  to  former, 
if  not  to  first  loves,  takes  place.  Rev.  R.  King  has  already 
returned  to  the  pulpit  at  Danville,  where  he  labored  so  long 
and  so  faithfully.  Rev.  Isaac  Leonard,  for  many  years  pas- 
tor at  Pisgah,  and  who  has  been  living  in  New  Jersey  for  a 
score  or  more  years,  has  returned  and  is  again  preaching  at 


OP^    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  309 

Pisgab,  and  now  comes  Rev.  G.  J.  Johnson,  and  returns  to 
his  first  love  at  Burlington.  Many  hearts  must  rejoice  in  the 
Burlington  Association,  and  perhaps  some  ancient  men,  as 
in  Zerubbabel's  time,  who  remember  the  former  days,  may 
mingle  weeping  with  the  rejoicing  at  the  comparison  of  our 
present  state  with  those  former  days.  May  it  yet  be  that 
the  return  of  those  brethren  may  be  as  the  coming  anew  of 
the  Messiah  to  his  temple,  and  the  glory  of  these  latter 
days  may  be  even  greater  than  the  former. 

In  1886  the  Association  met  with  the  Walnut  Street 
Church  Burlington  in  the  most  remarkable  session  it  had 
lield  for  many  years.  J.  W.  Burdette  was  again  Modera- 
tor, and  Rev.  H.  M.  Jones  clerk.  The  meetings  of  the  body 
throughout  were  pervaded  by  a  deep  spiritual  sentiment 
and  the  delegates  were  often  in  prayer,  being  called  there- 
to by  the  Moderator,  at  every  opportunity  while  waiting 
for  committees  to  report.  The  deep  devotional  character 
of  the  sessions  was  a  hopeful  indication  of  the  refreshing 
presence  of  the  Lord,  which  has  since,  at  least  in  the 
church  which  entertained  the  body,  been  brought  to  partial 
fruition. 

As  we  close  this  record  January  1887,  it  is  witli  but  lit- 
tle change  to  record.  Onl}^  22  baptisms  are  reported  and 
799  members  in  1886.  The  1st  Baptist  Church  Burlington 
has  just  dedicated  its  beautiful  new  edifice,  erected  at  a 
cost  of  nearly  $25,000,  and  I)r.  Johnson  is  laboring  very 
hard  to  build  the  spiritual  house  of  the  Lord.  Rev.  Henry 
Williams  succeeded  C.  J.  Thompson  as  pastor  at  AValnut 
Street,  Burlington,  in  1886.  He  is -laboring  with  marked 
success  in  that  field.  x\s  we  close  this  sketch  he  has,  dur- 
ing the  present  winter,  baptized  21  and  the  work  goes  hope- 
fully on.  The  number  of  persons  admitted  to  the  churches 
of  the  Burlington   Association,   since  and  in  closing  the 


310  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

year  1860,  by  baptism  alone,  saying  nothing  of  those  who 
have  come  in  by  letter  and  on  experience  and  former 
baptism,  is  2026.  The  largest  number  of  members  reported 
in  any  one  year  was  in  1868,  the  membership  of  that  year 
being  1485.  This  was  just  before  the  organization  of  the 
Washington  Association,  which  reduced  the  membership 
in  this  Association,  while  it  was  greatly  increased  on  the 
field  that  the  body  had  occupied  up  to  that  date.  For  in- 
stance, add  to  the  number  reported  in  1870,  the  next  year 
but  one,  1142,  the  number  reported  in  the  Washington 
Association  by  churches  formerly  belonging  to  this,  and 
we  have  1546,  and  as  the  years  advance  the  number 
from  the  same  churches  would  doubtless  increase.  So 
that  while  the  statistics  of  the  Burlington  Assoication  give, 
at  first  view,  the  impression  that  the  cause  has  greatly  de- 
clined in  the  last  few  years,  when  we  take  all  the  conditions 
into  account  the  decline  is  not  so  great  as  it  seems. 

Nevertheless,  it  must  be  admitted  that  there  has  been 
in  these  older  fields  generally,  a  relative  decline,  and 
perhaps  there  is  no  better  place  than  here  to  say  a  word  on 
the  importance  of  awaking  to  vigorous  and  effective  Mis- 
sionary work  in  these  older  fields,  and  especially  in  and 
about  the  cities.  The  relative  increase  of  city  over  rural 
populations  for  the  last  quarter  of  a  century  has  been 
startling.  The  cities  are  fast  coming  to  rule  the  social, 
material  and  political  interests  of  the  whole  country,  and 
rum,  pleasure  and  other  demoralizing  forces  which  center 
largely  in  the  cities  are  seeking,  more  and  more  to  domi- 
nate the  whole.  The  remedy  for  these  tendencies  must 
be  sought  in  leavening  both  city  and  country  with  the 
saving  power  of  the  Gospel  and  the  righteousness  of  the 
Bible.  Oh  !  for  a  general  awakening  and  consecration  of 
the  resources  that  are  being  wasted  on  levity  and  lucre. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 


Washington   Association — An   Organization   with   a 
History  Peculiar  to    Itself — Some  of  the 
Oldest    Churches  —  Special    Fea- 
tures—1869    TO    1886. 

UCH  is  the  relation  of  the  Washington  Asso- 
ciation to  the  history  that  has  been  given  in 
the  previous  chapter  that  we  give  it  place 
here  as  a  continuation.  The  origin  of  the 
older  churches  takes  us  back  even  to  the  old 
Des  Moines  Association,  so  that,  though  a  young  Associa- 
tion it  nevertheless  has  the  marks  of  age. 

On  the  11th  of  September,  1869,  according  to  previous 
arrangements,  delegates  met  at  the  New  Haven  Church,  8 
miles  west  of  Washington,  and  organized  themselves  into 
the  Washington  Bajdist  Association.  There  were  repre- 
sented the  Ainsworth,  Talleyrand,  Washington,  Columbus 
City,  Davis  Creek,  New  Haven  and  Richmond  Churches. 
An  opening  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  A.  W.  Sutton, 
from  Acts  17:  6.  Rev.  W.  R.  Woodruff  was  elected  Moder- 
ator, N.  Littler,  clerk  and  Calvin  Craven,  treasurer.  Rev. 
Arthur  Stott  reported  for  a  committee  previously  ap- 
pointed, a  Constitution   and  By-Laws  which,  after  discus- 


812  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

sion  and  amendments,  were  adopted  and  the  organization 
completed.  The  following  roll  of  churches  appeared  in 
the  Minutes  of  1S69:  Ains worth,  16  members;  Columbus 
City,  111;  Davis  Creek,  48;  New  Haven,  78;  Talleyrand, 
37;  Richmond,  104;  Washington,  53;  Zion,  98.  Churches 
9,  members  555.  The  situation  gives  promise  of  a  history 
differing  in  some  respects  from  other  like  bodies  in  the 
State.  It  is  located  where  nine  Baptist  churches,  com- 
prising over  500  members,  are  thickly  clustered,  having 
Washington  for  a  center,  and  any  one  of  which,  as  well  as 
the  center,  can  be  reached  without  much  travel.  The  com- 
mittee on  state  of  religion  in  making  a  note  of  this  peculiar 
situation,  say  further,  "In  parting  with  the  Burlington 
and  English  River  Associations,  none  but  the  kindest  feel- 
ings exist  between  these  churches  and  those  Associations; 
and  we  pray  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  to  increase  theiff  a 
hundred  fold.  Brethren  we  have  cast  ourselves  into  the 
breach  to  fight  the  Lord's  battles,  let  us  equip  ourselves 
for  the  work  and  prove  ourselves  good  soldiers  of  the 
Captain  of  our  Salvation."  The  pastors  at  tlie  time  of  organ- 
ization were:  A.  W.  Sutton,  Ainsworth,  W.  R.  Woodruff, 
Columbus  City,  J.  M.  Wood,  Xew  Haven,  Arthur  Stott, 
Washington  and  E.  Ward,  Zion.  The  Zion  Church 
reported  61  baptisms;  New  Haven  10;  Columbus  City  2, 
and  Washington  one. 

For  the  years  from  1870  to  1875,  the  anniversaries  of  the 
Association  were  at  Davis  Creek,  Zion,  Washington,  Rich- 
mond, New  Haven  and  Columbus  City.  The  introductory 
sermons  were  preached  by  Brethren  J.  M  Wood,  A.  Stott, 
S.  M.  Cramblet,  E.  C.  Cady,  Father  Warren  and  J.  H. 
Miller.  The  Moderators,  in  the  order  named,  were:  Dea- 
con A.  A  Smith,  Wood,  Cramblet,  J.  P.  Coffman,  Warren 
and  Miller.  N.  Littler  was  the  only  clerk  during  these 
years  and  up  to  18S4. 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  313 

The  first  anniversary  in  1870  revealed  a  beginning  of 
marked  acriviry.     An  enterprise  liad  been  inaugurated  at 

the  first  meeting  for  establishing  a  Book  Fund. 

Also  Special  Mission  work  in  the  Association. 
In  conn(H',tion  with  a  temporary  Mission  conducted  by 
Brother  AVood,  pastor  at  New  Haven,  the  Eurek-a  Church, 
six  miles  southwest  of  Washington,  was  organized  and  a 
good  brick  house  built  costing  S1594.66.  The  church  was 
received  into  the  Association  with  25  members,  12  of  them 
received  by  baptism.  The  Howard  Grove  Church  was 
received  from  the  English  River  Association,  H.  H.  Parks 
pastor.  There  were  87  baptisms  reported  and  644  members. 
Pastors  J.  W.  Coffman  of  Richmond  and  J.  P.  Coffman  of 
Zion  Church  are  in  addition  to  those  before  named. 
Brother  Stott  resigned  about  this  time  at  Washington.  It 
was  resolved  in  1870  "That  we  take  immediate  steps  to 
collect  and  preserve  the  history  of  ihis  Association,  and 
that  Brother  Littler  be  our  historian.''  In  1871  we  find 
Rev.  S.  M.  Cramblet  pastor  at  Washington  and  Richmond, 
E.  Ward  preaching  at  Ainswortli  and  Davis  Creek,  A. 
Stott  at  Columbus  City,  and  J.  P.  Cofi'man  still  at  Zion.  In 
1872  the  Louisa  Center  Church  was  received.  Rev.  A.  W. 
Sutton  appears  again  at  Ainswortli.  E.  C.  Cady  is  at 
Washington,  and  J.  B.  Hawk  at  Howard  Grove  and  Tally- 
rand.  From  the  first  this  Association  has  had  a  monthly 
conference,  which  is  now  mentioned  in  the  report  of  the 
committee  on  State  of  Religion  in  the  Churches  as  "A 
power  for  good,  the  influence  of  which  cannot  be  fully  esti- 
mated. Social  ties  are  created  by  it,  and  it  calls  out  the 
talent,  ability  and  energies  of  all,  and  at  once  becomes  the 
academic  and  normal  school  of  the  Association,  and  a 
means  of  improvement  and  growth  in  the  knowledge  of 
the  way  to  work  in  the  Master's  service."  This  monthly 
conference  seems  to  be  at  the  same  time  a  sort  of  executive 


814  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

committee  of  the  whole,  having  charge  of  the  benevolent 
work  of  the  Association.  This  year,  at  a  meeting  at 
Louisa  Center,  it  adopted  the  building  of  a  Baptist  church 
tit  Keota  as  an  object  of  concentrated  effort.  This  the  Asso- 
ciation approves  and  already  tiie  work  is  well  under  way. 
The  meeting  was  enlivened  Just  at  its  close  by  the  arrival 
of  Rev.  J.  E.  Clough,  who  had  been  expected  earlier,  but 
failing  of  the  necessary  railroad  connections  did  not  ar- 
rive until  this  late  hour,  when  he  addressed  the  Association 
for  30  minutes.  In  anticipation  of  his  coming,  however,  a 
collection  of  $67  cash  had  been  taken  up  for  Foreign  Mis- 
sions, and  the  amount  of  $775  pledged  toward  the  endow- 
ment of  the  Telugu  Theological  Seminary  in  India.  A 
collection  was  taken  up  for  ''Our  distressed  sister,  Hannah 
Beard,  the  church  builder,  now  in  Chicago  receiving  medical 
treatment  for  disability  caused  b}^  railroad  accident  while 
engaged  in  her  noble  enterprise,"  which  collection 
amounted  in  cash  to  $19.16. 

In  1873  the  Keota  Church  was  received  with  24  mem- 
bers, 13  of  whom  had  been  received  b}^  baptism.  Rev.  Jas. 
Fre}^  is  preaching  at  Keota,  W.  N.  Whitaker  at 
Richmond,  and  E.  Ward  at  Columbus  City  and 
Davis  Creek.  Brother  Wood  served  part  of  the  year  as 
Missionary  of  the  Association.  He  has  resigned  at  New 
Haven  after  a  successful  pastorate  of  six  years  since  the  or- 
ganization of  the  charch.  In  1874  we  find  recorded  a  deci- 
ded increase  of  spiritual  interest;  113  baptisms  are  reported 
and  675  members.  Rev.  John  Warren  is  pastor  at  Ains- 
worth,  J.  H.  Miller  at  New  Haven,  J.  T.  Long  at  Howard 
Grove,  R.  M.  Tracy  at  Keota,  C.  Brooks  at  Louisa  Center, 
and  N.  H.  Daily  at  Richmond.  Brother  Ward  at  Davis 
Creek  and  Cramblet  at  Washington  are  still  holding  on. 
Rev.  J.  P.  Coffman  has  resigned  a  three  years' pastorate  at 
Zion.     Of  the  baptisms  reported   this  year,   Ainsworth  is 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  315 

credited  with  10,    Davis  Creelv  30,  Riclimond  28,  New  Ha- 
ven 8  and  Washington  35. 

The  Brighton  Church  transferred  its  connection,  in  1875, 

from   the  Burlington   Association;  J.  0.    Johnson  pastor. 

Tallyrand,  under  the  lead  of  Brother  Tracy  have 

"1      Q  TT  P?  mJ  ^  c/ 

built  a  neat  chapel  and  are  looking  for  a  revival. 
Rev.  J.  M.  Wood,  one  of  the  most  active  workers  in  this 
Association  from  its  organization,  has  removed  to  Pella  and 
become  the  Financial  Agent  of  the  Central  University.  At 
the  anniversary  in  1875,  Brother  Bronson,  one  of  the  oldest 
members  of  the  Columbus  City  Church,  gave  a  touching 
account  of  the  feeble  condition  of  the  Baptist  cause  inLou- 
isa  county,  and  the  religious  destitution  among  other 
denominations  in  the  county,  and  quite  an  interest  was 
awakened  in  behalf  of  a  better  provision  to  meet  this  des- 
titution. A  committee  was  appointed  consisting  of  Elders 
Woodruff  and  Ward,  and  Brothers  Bronson  and  Jennings, 
to  lay  the  matter  before  the  State  Convention,  and  to  urge 
upon  it  the  duty  of  taking  prompt  and  effective  action,  and 
pledging  the  Association  to  assist,  and  a  subscription 
amounting  to  $62  was  promptly  pledged  to  aid  on  the  part 
of  the  Association. 

The  Eighth  Anniversary  was  held  at  Talleyrand.  In 
the  absence  of  the  preacher  or  alternate  appointed  last 
year.  Rev.  A.  V.  Bloodgood,  of  Washington,  was 
invited  to  preach,  which  he  did  from  Acts  5:  20. 
Elder  R.  M.  Tracy  was  elected  Moderator,  N.  Littler,  clerk. 
Rev.  S.  M.  Cramblet  after  several  years  of  service  at  Rich- 
mond and  at  Washington,  has  taken  his  departure  for 
another  field  of  labor,  and  Rev.  A.  V.  Bloodgood  has  suc- 
ceeded him  at  Washington.  Rev.  John  Warren  still  holds 
on  as  pastor  of  the  Ainsworth  Church.  Rev.  R.  M.  Tracy 
is   now   supplying   Keota   and   Talleyrand,   J.   H.   Miller 


316  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Eureka  and  Howard  Grove,  and  N.  H.  Dailey,  Richmond 
and  Zion.  Rev.  J.  C.  Johnson  is  preaching  at  New  Haven. 
From  1877  to  1880  the  respective  annual  gatherino-s  were 
at  Ainsworth,  Washington,  Brighton  and  Zion.  Moder- 
ators: J.  M.  Wood,  two  years,  A.  Robbins  and  Wood 
again.  Annual  sermons  were  preached  by  A.  V.  Blood- 
good,  M.  D.  Murdock,  A.  Robbins  and  Wood.  In  1877 
three  new  churches  were  received,  Pleasant  View,  Iowa 
County,  Wapello  and  Toolesboro.  A  3^ear  of  spiritual  de- 
velopment was  granted  to  the  churches.  Three  hundred 
and,  ten  baptisms  were  reported  and  a  total  membership  of 
1,134.  Every  church  in  the  Association  reported  baptisms, 
the  smallest  number  being  two,  at  Columbus  City  and  the 
largest  59,  at  Talleyrand.  It  is  doubtful  if  a  parallel  to 
this  increase,  all  things  being  considered,  can  be  found  m 
the  history  of  Iowa  Baptists.  The  committee  on  "State  of 
Religion"  said,  "The  sense  of  increased  responsibility  in 
the  churches,  the  care  of  the  tender  lambs  of  the  flock, 
added  to  the  fold,  the  new  fields  of  labor  opened  up,  and 
our  largely  increased  duties  in  many  directions  press  us  to 
exclaim  'who  is  sufficient  for  these  things?' "  Rev.  M.  D. 
Murdock  labored  part  of  the  year  as  a  missionar}^  in 
Louisa  county,  a  result,  probably,  in  part  at  least,  of  tlie 
interest  awakened  two  years  earlier  at  the  meeting  in 
Columbus  City.  Rev.  B.  H.  Brasted  spent  several  months 
in  ev^angelistic  work,  "assisting  in  the  most  of  the  churches.'' 
Rev.  John  Warren,  for  a  number  of  j^ears  the  faithful  and 
most  beloved  pastor  at  Ainsworth,  quietly  passed  away 
during  the  year.  Also  Mrs.  Rebecca  Groat,  mother  of 
Rev.  E.  G.  O.  Groat,  a  member  of  the  Columbus  City 
Church.  Rev.  J.  M.  Wood  has  returned  to  this  field  as 
pastor  at  Ainsworth.  M.  I).  Murdock  is  supplying  at 
Columbus  City  and  Louisa  Center  and  E.  B.  Porter  is  j)as 
tor  at  Zion. 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  317 

In  1878  the  Riverside  Baptist  Church  was  received. 
Rev.  A.  Robbins  has  succeeded  Rev.  A.  V.  Bloodgood  at 
Washington,  Rev.  James  Jeffreys  is  preacliing 
for  the  Columbus  City  and  Louisa  CenterChurch- 
es,  and  Rev.  A.  C.  Kelly,  brought  up  in  this  neighborhood, 
is  the  pastor  at  Riverside  and  Davis  Creek  Churches. 
Brother  Robbins  preaches  also  at  Eureka.  The  revival 
interest  of  last  year  has  been  reasonably  well  sustained. 
Churches  17,  pastors  10,  baptized  119,  added  in  other  ways 
77,  total  membership  1118.  It  is  remarked  in  the  able 
report  on  the  State  of  Religion,  that  the  number  of  dead 
branches  cut  off  in  the  necessary  process  of  pruning  has 
about  equaled  the  additions.  The  total  number  of  addi- 
tions, as  seen  above,  is  196.  The  number  excluded  and 
erased  is  187.  After  the  phenomenal  ingathering  of  the 
last  year  it  is  not  surprising,  in  the  light  of  experience,  that 
this  pruning  should  have  been  needed  so  soon  after,  but 
is  rather  a  proof  of  vitality  in  the  churches  that  it  is  so 
faithfully  done.  Rev.  N.  H.  Daily  has  closed  his  work  at 
Richmond,  and  is  supplying  Howard  Grove  and  Brighton. 
In  1879  Rev.  T.  H.  Jones  is  found  pastor  at  Zion. 

A  change  of  the  constitution   brought  the  meeting  in 

the    middle   of    the   week.       It  was    an   experiment,   but 

in  the  minutes  for  1880  we  find  this  said   of  its 

"I    Q  p  (^ 

success:  "The  lingerino;  doubt,  heretofore  exist- 
ing in  the  minds  of  some  good  brethren,  that  our  anniversary 
meeting  could  not  be  successfully  held  during  the  middle 
of  the  week,  especially  in  the  busy  season  of  the  year,  was 
completely  and  satisfactorily  removed  by  the  large  attend- 
ance at  this,  the  first  annual  gathering  held  under  the  new 
arrangement."  Only  one  baptism  was  reported  this  year, 
while  on  the  other  hand  the  spirit  of  active  benevolence 
was  an  advance  on  the  last  year.  Rev.  E.  A.  Spring  is 
preaching  at  Brighton  and  Howard  Grove,  A.  J.  Delano  at 


318  HISTOEICAL    SKETCHES 

Keota,  and  H.  L.  Steele  at  New  Haven.  Rev.  J.  H.  Miller, 
who  has  been  an  important  factor  in  this  Association  for 
some  six  years,  is  missed  from  its  councils,  though  still  in 
the  neighboring  association,  the  Burlington.  For  the  years 
1881  to  1886  the  places  of  annual  gathering  have  been 
Howard  Grove,  New  Haven,  Richmond,  Washington,  Ains- 
worth,  and  Columbus  City.  The  annual  sermons  have 
been  delivered  by  Gilman  Parker,  W.  T.  Rice,  R.  J.  Lang- 
ridge,  W.  L.  Wolf,  W.  D.  Elwell,  andN.  B.  Rairden.  The 
Moderators  have  been  J.  M.  Wood,  A.  A.  Smith  three  years, 
W.  D.  Elwell,  and  Smith  again.  N.  Littler  continued  as 
clerk  till  1884,  and  N.  B.  Rairden  has  served  the  two  years 
since. 

In  1881  Pastor  Robbins  has  resigned  a  three  years  pas- 
torate at  Washington  and  Rev.  Gilman  Parker  has  suc- 
ceeded him.  W.  J.  Hatch  is  preaching  at  Colum- 
bus  City,  and  other  points,  and  George  E  Eldridge 
at  New  Haven  and  Tallyrand.  Rev.  A .  Robbins  has  removed 
from  Washington  to  Centerville,  Iowa.  In  1882  Brother  J. 
M.  Wood,  so  long  and  actively  connected  with  the  work  in 
this  Association  and  State,  has  removed  from  the  State  and 
become  a  citizen  of  Harper,  Kansas.  An  interesting  com- 
munication from  him  was  read,  and  the  clerk  directed  to 
make  suitable  response.  Rev.  T.  H.  Jones  for  the  last 
three  years  a  pastor  in  the  Association  is  also  missed  from 
the  pastoral  roll,  and  Rev.  L.  W.  Atkins  is  the  pastor  at 
Richmond  and  Zion  churches.  At  Washington  Rev.  Gil- 
man Parker  resigned  to  accept  the  appointment  of  State 
Sunday  School  Missionary,  and  the  church  have  called 
Rev  R.  J.  Langridge  to  the  pastorate.  Rev.  W.  T.  Rice  is 
preaching  at  Ainsworth,  and  Rev.  Jacob  Kissell  at  Louisa 
Center  and  Columbus  City.  Rev.  William  Elliott,  one  of 
the  earliest  pastors  of  the  Washington  Church — active  on 
this  field  more  than  thirty  years  ago— was   present  at  this 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  319 

meetins^,  fresh  almost  as  youth,  and   is  preaching  to   the 
Howard  Grove  Church. 

The  meeting  at  Richmond  in  1883  was  the  Fifteenth 

Anniversary.     Rev.  W.   L.  Wolf  is  pastor  at  Keota  and 

reports   10  baptized.      Richmond,  L.  W.  Atkins 

1  QRQ 

pastor,  reports  14.  Only  two  other  baptisms  in 
the  Association.  F'or  two  or  three  years  a  spiritual  dearth 
has  prevailed.  Rev.  C.  L.  Custer,  of  Bonaparte,  is  supply- 
ing Ainsworth  half  the  time.  Rev.  G.  M.  Vallandingham 
at  Howard  Grove  and  Father  Elliott  at  Davis  Creek  and 
Louisa  Center,  also  Jacob  Kissell  at  Columbus  City, 
Toolesboro  and  Wapello.  In  1884  we  find  the  Wapello 
Church  disbanded,  and  Pleasant  View  and  Eureka  drop- 
ped from  the  minutes  according  to  rule.  This  reduces  the 
Association  to  14  churches,  only  three  or  four  pastors,  40 
baptisms  reported  and  685  members.  A  strong  appeal  was 
made  to  the  State  Convention  to  aid  in  the  support  of  a 
missionary  in  this  field. 

At  the  meeting  at  Ainsworth  in  1885,  it  appeared  that 
not  a  settled  pastor  in  the  Association  was  in  it  the  year 
before.  Brother  Custer  supplying  at  Ainsworth 
half  the  time  since  1883,  but  not  living  within 
the  bounds  of  the  Association,  was  the  only  seeming  ex- 
ception to  the  above  remark.  The  settlement  of  several 
new  pastors  is,  however,  a  hopeful  sign.  Rev.  N.  B. 
Rairden  at  Washington,  W.  D.  Elwell  at  Keota,  New 
Haven  and  Zion,  W.  L.  Wood  at  Columbus  City  and  J.  T. 
Long  at  Howard  Grove,  are  the  pastors.  The  record  for 
1886  is  a  decided  improvement  again.  Keota  reports  53 
baptisms  and  Washington  18.  Altogether  there  are  83 
baptisms,  41  other  additions  and  689  members  in  13 
churches  with  .five  pastors.  Rev.  Amos  Weaver  is  pastor 
at  Keota.     Other  pastors  named  lastyear. 


320  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

The  liistoiy  of  the  Washington  Association  has  had,  as 
already  intimated,  some  distinguishing  features,  that  mal\e 
it  a  study  b}^  itself.  1st.  Its  circumscribed  territory  and 
the  close  neighborhood  of  its  churches  to  each  other. 
How  it  contrasts  with  many  of  the  earlier  Associations 
where  attendance  on  the  annual  meeting,  or  a  visitation  of 
a  missionary  character  would  require,  often,  the  traversing 
of  50  or  75  and  some  times  more  than  a  hundred  miles. 
In  this  Association  the  distance  of  the  farthest  churches 
from  each  other  has  at  any  time  been  scarcely  more  than 
30  miles,  and  a  majority  of  them  come  within  a  circle  of 
25  miles.  All  but  one  or  two  are  situated  in  the  two  coun- 
ties of  Washington  and  Louisa.  Circumscribed,  too,  by 
working  Associations  on  every  side,  there  could  not  be  the 
feeling  of  "land  to  be  possessed"  beyond  the  present 
limits,  so  that  the  zeal  of  the  body  could  spend  itself  on  its 
own  narrow  field.  Not  in  a  selfish  sense,  for  the  Wasliing- 
ton  Association  has  from  the  first  been  to  the  front  in  its 
zeal  in  behalf  of  the  world,  but  the  cultivation  of  the  home 
field  as  a  special  object  of  effort  has  been  the  more  effect- 
ual, doubtless  because  of  these  circumscribed  limits. 
Again  this  Association,  in  the  very  beginning,  incorporated 
into  its  life  some  methods  that  have  not  been  so  well  tried 
in  any  other  in  the  State.  It  is  too  soon  to  determine  the 
ultimate  practicability-  and  utilit}^  of  these  methods,  and 
whether  the  limited  territorj^  has  not  favored  them  as  a 
wider  range  would  not,  may  be  a  question,  but  a  brief 
review  of  one  or  two  of  these  may  be  profitable  as  it  is. 

Before  the  meeting  for  the  organization  of  this  body,  at 
the  recognition  of  the  Zion  Church,  in  May,  1869,  the 
"monthly  ministerial  and  lay  conference''  was  inaugurated 
and  at  the  meeting  of  tliis  conference,  in  Washington,  in 
July,  "a  fund  of  $50.00  was  raised  to  purchase  books  to 
sell  and  distribute   throughout  the  country  as  a   means, 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  321 

under  God,  to  circulate  the  trutli.  as  it  is  revealed  in  the 
Bible,"  etc.  Upon  the  organization  of  the  Association  this 
movement  was  endorsed,  and  the  Book  Fund  was  increased 
to  $132,  and  it  was  provided  that  the  monthly  conference 
of  ministers  and  members  should  constitnte  a  board  of 
directors,  to  whom  report  might  be  made  when  they  should 
direct.  This  book  enterprise  was  started  by  voluntary 
colporteur  work  on  the  part  of  Brethren  Wood  and  Ward, 
and  at  the  First  Anniversary  of  the  Association,  that  is 
the  second  meeting  at  Davis  Creek  this  report  was  made: 
"Books  and  tracts  bought  to  date,  $530.73.  Amount  dis- 
posed of,  $323;  about  15  per  cent  of  which  has  been  given 
away.  Books  on.  hand,  $207.73;  on  which  a  debt  of  $27.28 
remains  unpaid.''  The  same  report  also  states  that  the 
monthly  conference  has  been  regularly  held  during  the 
entire  year,  and  has  been  generally  well  attended  and 
alway  interesting.  "At  each  meeting,  with  perhaps  a  single 
exception,  not  less  than  two  sermons  were  preached," 
besides  essays  on  practical  religious  topics  and  appro- 
priate devotional  exercises. 

In  1872  Elder  Ward,  Missionary  Colporteur  re])orted  : 
''Books  and  tracts  on  hand  last  year,  $118.51.  Bought  dur- 
ing the  year  $107.  !Sold  during  the  year,  $109.  Balance 
stock  on  hand  $116.51.  Amount  uncollected  $4.64.  Cash 
on  hand  $23.66.  Total  assetts  $144.81.  In  1873  Brother 
Ward  is  still  Colporteur  and  Agent  of  Book  Fund.  He  has 
sold  during  the  year  books  and  tracts  to  the  amount  of 
$88.71,  has  paid  for  books,  etc.,  $87.50,  and  has  cash  on 
hand  $25.05  and  balance  of  assetts  $175.72.  In  1875  Broth- 
er Ward,  still  Missionary  Colporteur  reported  for  two 
years.  He  had  sold  $148.85  worth  of  books  and  tracts  ;  had 
paid  out  for  new  books  and  tracts,  $193.95  and  had  a  bal- 
ance on  hand  of  $156.32.  In  1878  Brother  Tracy  made  a 
report  of  fourteen  months  in  which  he  had  sold  about  $100 


322  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

worth  of  books.  There  was  at  this  time  belonging  to  the 
Book  Fund  in  money  safely  loaned,  $51.45.  Nearly  all 
the  Colporteur  work,  if  not  quite  all,  had  been  free  of 
charge;  volunteer  work  done  by  the  brethren  named  while 
acting  as  pastors.  In  1879  a  special  committee  was  appoint- 
ed to  take  charge  of  and  superintend  the  "Book  Concern." 
Brethren  Littler,  Wood,  and  Jeffries  were  the  committee. 
Later  on  the  clerlv  of  the  Association  seems  to  have  been 
made  the  custodian  of  the  Bool^  Concern,  and  made  report 
annually  of  purchases,  sales  etc.,  amounting  to  hundreds 
of  dollars.  In  1882  a  proposition  was  introduced  to  divert 
the  funds  of  the  Book  Concern  into  a  permanent  endow- 
ment fund,  the  interest  to  be  used  for  the-relief  of  the  fam- 
ilies of  deceased  Baptist  ministers  residing  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Association,  and  to  provide  for  the  regular 
increase  of  the  principal  of  said  fund.  The  whole  matter 
was  referred  to  a  committee  to  report  at  the  next  annual 
meeting,  consisting  of  Rev.  R.  J.  Langridge:  Rev.  L.  W. 
Atkins  and  the  Moderator,  Deacon  A.  A.  Smith.  The  fol- 
lowing year,  1888,  report  was  again  made  by  the  custodian 
of  the  Book  Concern  by  which  it  appears  that  the  cash  in 
the  Fund  amounted,  including  interest  to  October  i,  to 
$100,85.  The  special  committee  appointed  on  "Deceased 
Baptist  Ministers'  Widows  and  Orphans'  Fund,"  reported 
and  after  discussion  the  whole  matter  was  referred  back  to 
the  same  committee  and  Deacon  C.  Craven  added  to  the 
committee,  The  next  year,  1884,  on  report  of  this  commit- 
tee it  was  resolved  to  create  such  a  fund,  by  taking  up  a 
collection  annually  at  the  close  of  tlie  Associational  ser- 
mon, but  it  does  not  appear  that  the  suggestion  to  divert 
the  surplus  of  the  Book  Fund  into  this  Second  Fund  was 
adopted.  .  The  invested  Book  Fund  in  1884  amounted  to 
$109.41.  A  like  report  in  1885  shows  a  slight  increase  of 
cash    on  hands.     We  have  deemed  this  history  of  a  special 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  323 

enterprise  wortliy  of  detail,  because  as  a  factor  of  Associa- 
tional  history  it  is  uniqae  and  will  at  least  bear  study.  It 
must  be  admitted  that  during  the  last  few  years  the  interest 
has  waned  to  some  extent  and  that  in  its  most  prosperous 
times  it  has  required  an  amount  of  gratuitous  work  that  it 
might  be  difficult  in  most  Associations  to  find  men  so  sit- 
uated that  they  could  render  it. 

Take  it  all  in  all  the  history  of  the  Washington  Asso- 
ciation is  full  of  suggestive  seed-thoughts  in  christian 
activity,  than  which  few  bodies  can  present  more.  But 
little  appears  concerning  the  Monthly  Conference  in  the 
annals  of  the  last  few  3'ears,  but  it  is  understood  that  for 
the  most  of  the  time  it  has  been  maintained,  though  not, 
perhaps,  with  quite  the  success  of  earlier  years.  The  record 
as  to  benevolent  contributions  and  missionary  spirit  is 
without  doubt  better  than  in  most  bodies  of  its  strength. 
In  connection  with  the  State  Convention  we  have  data  for 
an  exact  statement  which  we  give,  and  we  have  good  reason 
to  believe  that  the  contributions  to  other  objects  are  rela- 
tively as  good.  In  the  seventeen  years  of  its  existence  the 
Association  is  credited  with  the  contribution  in  the  regular 
way  to  the  Convention  of  $1780.96,  or  an  average  of  $104.76 
per  year.  To  this  may  be  added  a  special  individual  con- 
tribution in  1881  of  $406.86,  which  would  make  the  grand 
total  $2,197.81,  or  an  average  of  $129.22  per  year.  During 
this  entire  period  only  $381.96  were  appropriated  from  the 
Convention  treasury  for  missionary  work  within  the  bounds 
of  this  Association,  and  most  of  the  time  the  churches  were 
contributing  more  or  less  for  Associational  missionary 
work,  under  direction  of  a  board  appointed  from  year  to 
year.  Brother  N.  Littler  continues  to  be  custodian  of  the 
Book  Concern,  which  reports,  in  1886,  cash  on  hands  $127.40. 

Amono-  the   veterans   of  this   Association    still    living 


324  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

thouo'h  in  feeble  in  health,  is  the  excellent  Rev.  W.  R. 
Woodruff.  As  an  illustration  of  his  spirit  we  take  the 
followino;  extract  from  a  report  on  the  State  of  Religion  in 
the  Churches,  presented  and  presumably  written  by  him 
in  1874.  •  "By  the  reading  of  the  letters  from  the  churches, 
it  is  plainl}^  seen  that  an  active  christian  zeal  is  moving 
the  general  interest  in  tlie  Association  to  a  higher  plane 
than  we  enjoyed  one  year  ago.  The  lull  that  seemed  to 
rest  upon  us  then  has  been  broken  by  precious  revivals 
and  additions  to  the  membership,  in  several  of  the  churches, 
and  consequently  greater  consecration  to  the  work  of  the 
Master,  and  from  them  the  brethren  along  almost  the  entire 
line  have  caught  the  inspiring  intiuence,  and  are  earnestly 
pleading  the  Divine  blessing  to  rest  upon  the  pastors  and 
brethren,  *  "  ""•  that  christians  may  do  all  they  re- 
solve, till  many  shall  stand  where  Moses  stood  and  view 
the  promised  land,  and  from  thence,  like  him,  cross  the 
flood,  borne  on  in  angel  hands.  AVe  do  not  forget,  how- 
ever, that  there  are  some  still  reclining  by  the  way.  even 
following  at  a  distance,  3'et  we  are  glad  to  know  that  they 
foUou'  with  uncovered,  fires  ready  to  blaze  into  active  life. 
"■  '•  "■  JS'ow,  dear  brethren,  move  on  to  the  conquest.  Be 
encouraged  by  the  past.  Trust  in  the  presence  and  help  of 
our  dear  Redeemer.  His  arm  is  not  shortened  that  it  can- 
not save,  nor  His  ear  heavy  that  he  cannot  hear. ''  This 
exhortation  will  al\^ys  be  appropriate  to  the  readers  of 
this  sketch  in  every  time  and  place.  We  have  no  better 
words  with  which  to  mark  its  final  close. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 


The  English  Rivek  Association— Keokuk,  Iowa— Powe- 

sheik  and  otiiek  counties — organized 

IN  1860—1860   TO  1886. 

S^HREE  new  Associations  were  organized  in  1860. 
One  of  these  was  the  English  River  Associa- 
tion. This  body  was  organized,  and  had  its 
first  meeting  with  the  Church  at  {South  Eng- 
lish. Rev.  J.  C.  Miles  was  its  first  cleric. 
There  were  in  the  organization  8  churclies,  5 
of  whicli  had  never  been  associated.  The  following  is  the 
list:  Brooklyn,  eJ.  C.  Miles  pastor,  13  members;  Cedar 
Creek,  J.  Frey,  40  ;  Clear  Creek,  E.  Ward,  48  ;  Deep  River, 
J.  C.  Miles,  31 ;  Montezuma,  11  members  ;  2nd  Pella,  Wnj. 
Elliott,  102  ;  2nd  Sigourney,  J.  Frey,  59  ;  and  South  English 
J.  Frey,  50.  Total  370,  of  whom  84  had  been  baptized  and 
134  received  from  all  sources  duri%  the  year.  36  had 
been  baptized  at  2nd  Pella,  13  at  Sigourney,  and  20  at 
Deep  River.  The  field  of  the  new  Association  lay  in 
Keokuk.  Powesheik,  Iowa,  Mahaska,  and  Marion  counties. 

In  1861  the  Association  met  with  the  Deep  River  Church 
at  Dresden,  Powesheik  county.  J.  H.  Sanders  was  secre- 
tary. Rev.  J.  C.  Miles  wrote  of  this  field  then: 
"We  look  upon  a  large  portion  of  our  Association 
limits  as  Missionary  ground."     Some  of  the  churches  had 


1861. 


326  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

already  received  aid  from  the  Convention  but  tliey  were 
very  feeble  and  would  still  need  it.  $85.78  bad  been  con- 
tributed in  1861.  A  good  beginning  for  this  pioneer  body. 
A  good  revival  interest  when  the  Association  was  organ- 
ized seems  somewhat  to  have  abated.  Only  10  baptisms 
reported.  Rev.  Samuel  West  is  preaching  at  2d  Sigourney 
and  South  English,  (There  is  no  1st  Sigourney  Church.) 
Rev.  J.  C.  Miles  was  missionary  of  the  Convention,  preach- 
ing at  Dresden  and  Brooklyn.  The  latter  piace  was  at  the 
time  "the  terminus  of  the  Mississippi  &  Missouri  River  R. 
R.,  now  the  Chicago  &  Rock  Island.'' 

The  Third  annual  meeting,  in  1862,  was  held  at  Indi- 
anapolis, in  Mahaska  county.  Samuel  Harlan,  clerk. 
Howard  Grove,  Madison,  Marengo  and  Martins- 
burg  Churches  were  added.  The  Martinsburg 
Church  (^ame  from  the  Oskaloosa  Association,  and  was 
organized  in  1852.  There  are  now  493  members  in  twelve 
churches.  Rev.  J.  M.  Wood  is  the  pastor  at  Howard 
Grove.  Second  Pella  and  Sigourney  are  without  pastors. 
Rev.  Wm.  Elliott  is  preaching  for  the  Madison  Church,  six 
miles  north  of  Oskaloosa  and  has  baptized  16  of  the  36 
reported.  The  anniversary  in  1863  was  at  Martinsburg. 
Samuel  Harlan  still  clerk.  Rev.  O.  L.  Crittenden  has 
become  pastor  at  2nd  Pella,  Rev.  J.  Frey  at  Sigourney;  no 
longer  called  2d  Sigourney.  A  church  appears  at  Millers- 
burg  with  9  members,  J.  C.  Miles,  pastor.  In  the  winter 
of  1863  the  writer,  having  just  received  his  appointment  as 
General  Missionary  and  Financial  Agent  of  the  Iowa  Bap- 
tist State  Convention,  made  his  first  trip,  on  horseback, 
down  through  the  region  of  which  we  now  write,  Monte- 
zuma, Dresden,  Millersburg;  over  the  bleak,  snow  covered 
prairies,  from  settlement  to  settlement;  the  results  of  course 
were  meagre,  but  thej^  were  something,  and  they  marked 
the  beginning  of  a  period,  now  looked  back  to  through  the 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  327 

vista  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  with  deepest  interest, 
as  one  of  great  blessing  to  tlie  worker,  and  it  may  be 
humbly  hoped  to  some  others  as  well.  Rev.  J.  C.  Miles 
was  one  of  the  nine  missionaries  of  the  Convention  that 
year  including  the  general  missionary,  and  the  little  Asso- 
ciation is  credited  with  the  honorable  sum  of  $138.25,  con- 
tributed to  its  treasury. 

The  Association  met  at  Sigouruey  in  1864.  S.  Harlan, 
clerk.  The  Montezuma  Church  does  not  appear.  We 
were  present  about  1860  at  a  council  for  recogni- 
tion  of  a  church  at  Montezuma.  There  was  a 
good  deal  of  zeal  in  tlie  council^  if  not  in  the  church,  for 
the  establishment  of  a  live  gospel  church  in  this  county 
seat.  But  alas!  the  name  appears  on  the  records  for  the 
next  three  years  with  10  members,  no  pastor,  so  far  as 
appears  no  services,  no  administration  of  the  ordinances 
and  then  disappears.  Query:  was  there  ever  a  Baptist 
Church  at  Montezuma?  One  lesson  we  learn  by  such 
experiences,  namely,  that  we  cannot  build  a  New  Testament 
Church  in  any  place  unless  the  Lord  give  us  lively  stones 
to  build  into  the  structure.  True,  there  were  excellent 
Christians  in  this  little  band  at  Montezuma,  and  there  may 
have  been  at  the  time  good  reason  to  hope  for  growth,  but 
changes  came  about,  and  hence  the  result  we  have  noted 
above.  The  year  1864  seems  to  have  been  a  fruitful  one. 
One  hundred  and  twenty-three  persons  were  baptized  and 
there  were  704  members.  The  Richland  Church,  John  T. 
Walker,  pastor,  was  added  to  the  list.  There  was  a 
church  organized  at  Richland  in  ]  850,  and  for  several  years 
belonging  to  the  Oskaloosa  Association,  but  of  late  the 
name  has  disappeared.  Brother  Frey,  pastor,  reported  30 
baptisms  at  Sigourneyand  27 at  Cedar  Creek  (Indianapolis) 
Wood  at  Madison  Cliurch  23,  Miles  at  Marengo  11,  and 
West  at  South  En2:lish  13. 


328  iiiSTorjCAL  sketches 

111  1865  the  Fifth  Anniversary  was  at  Howard  Grove. 
Fremont  Church  from  the  Oskaloosa  Association  and  the 
Brushy  Bend  and  Rock  Creelv  Churches  were  re- 
ceived.  It  was  another  year  of  revivals;  116  bap- 
tisms, 184  additions,  and  859  members.  Rev.  O.  L.  Critten- 
den has  been  pastor  of  the  2d  Fella  Church  since  1863  and 
reports  26  baptized;  Frey  at  Sigourney  10,  Wood  at  How- 
ard Gfrove  15,  and  at  Madison  27.  Wheu  we  record  these 
successes  in  winning  souls,  and  then  remember  the  churches 
as  they  are  known  a  little  later  we  are  reminded  of  the  Sa- 
viour's words  ill  reference  to  the  lepers  that  were  cleansed, 
"Where  are  the  nine  T'  But  we  rejoice  that  there  were 
some  to  "give  glory  to  God."  In  1866  the  Association  was 
to  meet  at  2d  Fella"  Rev.  S.  West  clerk.  Deacon  Samuel 
Harlan  liad  served  as  clerk  four  years.  Five  new  churches 
were  added,  viz.:  Cherry  Grove,  Farmersville,  Forest  Home, 
Little  Mount  and  Pleasant  View.  Rev.  A.  P.  Berry  is 
pastor  at  Fremont,  R.  M.  Tracy  at  Forest  Home  and  Pleas- 
ant View,  and  S.  E.  Nelson  at  Richland.  Rev.  Wm.  Elli- 
ott labored  as  Missionar}"  of  the  Association,  receiving  i^550 
for  his  services,  besides  which  the  ciiurches  of  the  Associ- 
ation contributed  sB  115.90  to  the  Convention  treasury  in 
1866. 

South  English  entertained  the  Association  in  1867.  The 

Agricola,  New  Haven,  Pleasant    Ridge,  and    South    River 

Churches  were  received.     The  name  of  the  Clear 

1  Q  p;  Y 

Creek  Church  is  changed  to  Talleyrand.  There 
are  now  24  churches,  8  pastors,  230  baptisms  reported,  408 
additions  from  allsources,  and  1235  members.  The  growth 
in  1867  is  something  remarkable.  It  is  a  revival  year 
throughout  tlie  state,  the  whole  number  of  baptisms  being 
1673,  the  largest  number  readied  since  1857,  wlien  there 
were  1800  baptized.  Eiglitof  the  24  churches  have  meeting 
houses,  viz  :  Cedar   Creek,  Fremont,  Howard    Grove,  New 


R  LV.   MORGAN  EDWARDS. 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  329 

Haven,  2d  Pella,  South  English,  Forest  Home,  and  Sigour- 
ney.  On  t]iis  field  oE  24  churehes  and  over  1200  members, 
ten  Noais  tailier  there  were  not  to  exceed  four  or  five 
churcht'S  and  perhaps  150  members. 

In  1868  the  Association  met  at  Indianapolis.  J.  McCoy 
clerk.  Rev.  R.  M.  Tracy  had  been  for  two  years  Mission- 
ary of  the  Convention  in  a  part  of  this  field.  In 
acknowledging  the  favor  of  the  Convention  in  his 
report  lie  says,  "  though  we  shall  attempt  to  sustain  our- 
selves, it  will  be  a  pleasure  to  welcome  3'our  agent  in  our 
mid?'.  We  believe  it  is  'more  blessed  to  give  than  to  re- 
ceive.'"  In  1869  Marysville  was  the  place  of  meeting. 
Samuel  Harlan  Moderator,  James  McCoy  clerk.  The  revi- 
val of  the  last  two  or  three  years  has  in  a  measure  subsided; 
71  baptisms  are  reported,  and  1381  members;  29  of  the  bap- 
tisms were  at  the  South  River  Church,  S.  Ferguson,  pastor. 
Rev.  J.  G.  Craven  had  been  pastor  a  year  or  so  at  2d  Pella, 
but  had  resigned.  Met  in  1870  at  Agricola  Church.  Bro. 
McCoy  still  clerk.  Rev.  M.  Gregson  is  preaching  at  Agri- 
cola  and  Little  Mount,  S.  E.  Nelson  at  Cedar  Creek  and 
Springfield — the  latter  a  new  organization  with  22  mem- 
bers, 12  of  whom  were  baptized  during  the  year.  Wm. 
Elliott  at  Cherry  Grove  and  Linn  Grove,  G.  W.  Cutting  at 
Deep  River;  S.  Ferguson  at  Farmersville  and  South  River, 
R.  M.  Tracy  at  Forest  Home,  H.  H.  Parks,  at  Howard 
Grove,  O.  L.  Critenden  at  his  old  place  in  2d  Pella,  and 
Amos  Pratt  at  Sigourney  and  South  English.  The  value  of 
church  property  in  the  Association  is  )^20,500.  In  1871  met 
at  Cherry  Grove,  Mahaska  county.  Rev.  J.  W.  CofTman 
clerk.  Baptisms  119.  Rev.  O.  M.  Merrick  was  pastor  at 
Brooklyn  and  at  Malcomb,  a  new  organization  on  the 
Rock  Island  railroad.  Rev.  J.  McCoy  at  Cedar  Creek  (In- 
dianapolis), G.  M.  A'allandingham  at  North  River,  G.  W. 
Dowd  at  Fremont   and  Richland,  H.   A.  Sarvis  at  South 


330  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES' 

River,  J.  W.  Coflmanat  Sigourney,  and  M.  Gregson  at  Little 
Mount  and  Springfield.  The  Little  Mount  Clmrch,  seven 
miles  west  of  Montezuma,  is  the  oldest  anywhere  in  its  vi- 
cinity, having  been  organized  in  1855.  Brother  Gregson, 
whose  home  is  here,  was  probably  instrumental  in  its  organ- 
ization. He  was  here  in  1856.  Forty-one  baptisms  were  re- 
ported at  Rock  Creek  (What  Cheer),  and  24 at  South  English. 
Met  in  1872  at  Sigourney.  Rev.  S.  West  has  returned 
to  the  pulpit  at  South  English  and  Wm.  Elliott  at  Cherry 

Grove.     Agricola  now  numbers  160,  15  of  whom 

-I  QY9 

have  been  baptized  during  the  year,  H.  A.  Sarvis 
pastor.  Prairie  View  Church  is  just  received,  with  18  bap- 
tisms and  33  members,  S.  E.  Nelson  pastor.  The  Howard 
Grove,  New  Haven  and  Talleyrand  Churches  united,  in 
1870,  with  the  Washington  Association.  The  anniversary 
in  1873  was  at  Springfield.  Rev.  A.  W.  Sutton  has  become 
pastor  at  2d  Pella,  J.  C.  McSpadden  at  South  River.  Met 
in  1874  at  Little  Mount.  Rev.  J.  T.  Long  appears  as  pastor 
at  Richland.  For  the  last  three  years  James  McCoy,  S. 
West  and  J.  Frey  have  served  as  clerks.  For  the  years 
1875  to  1880  inclusive,  the  anniversaries  have  been  at  Rich- 
land, What  Cheer,  South  English,  North  River,  Fairview 
Church  and  Fremont.  Brethren  West  and  McCoy  served 
as  clerks.  Brother  West  for  1875  and  1880,  and  Brother 
McCoy  the  four  intervening  years. 

In  1875  the  Agricola  Churcli,  seven  miles  soutlieast  of 
Montezuma,  reported  4  baptisms  and  100  members,  against 
160  three  years  before.  This  church,  organized  in 
1867,  out  of  the  raw  quarry  as  we  might  say,  and 
reporting  the  next  year  110  members,  has  a  history  that 
will  do  to  study  as  a  type  of  its  class.  9  of  16  churches  in 
the  Association  in  1875  report  no  additions  and  10  of  them 
no  preaching.  In  1876  there  is  some  increase,  87  baptisms 
were  reported,  and  843  members  against  761  the  previous 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  331 

year.  Rev.  J.  M.  Wood  is  at  Fremont  and  Fairview,  and 
reports  on  the  two  fields  43  baptisms.  Rev.  T.  L.  Crandall, 
a  recent  student  of  the  Central  University,  is  settled  at 
Sigourney.  Rev.  E.  B.  Porter  preaclied  at  Rock  Creek 
(What  Cheer)  and  at  Prairie  View.  In  1877  Rev.  H. 
Whitney  appears  as  pastor  of  the  Springfield  Church,  now 
Delta,  and  in  1878  S.  J.  Davis  at  Cherry  Grove.  The  2d 
Pella  Church,  after  a  career,  at  first  prosperous,  then  va- 
riable, then  of  steady  decline,  has  finally  disappeared  from 
the  records.  Some  veiy  excellent  spirits  have  been  in  the 
ministry  and  in  the  membership  of  that  churcli  and  it  had 
its  day  of  usefulness  and  made  an  honorable  record.  Its 
contributions  to  the  benevolent  work  of  the  denomination 
were  exceptionally  liberal.  Though  the  candle  stick  may 
not  be  longer  needed  in  that  place,  the  light  that  was  kin- 
dled upon  it  has  not  gone  out.  loka  reports  with  B.  Hol- 
lingsworth  pastor  in  1879,  and  Brother  Crandall  has 
resigned  a  three  years'  pastorate  at  Sigourney.  S.  E.  Nel- 
son, S.  J.  Davis,  M.  Gregson,  J.  Grey,  G.  M.  Vallandingham, 
and  S.  West  are  the  pastors. 

In  1880,  R.  M.  Tracy  has  assumed  the  pastorate  at 
loka,  and  reports  14  baptisms  and  57  members.  The  Rock 
Creek  Church  has  changed  its  name  to  What 
Cheer.  Rev.  James  Frey,  Sr.,  who  came  to  Iowa 
when  he  was  seventy  years  old,  and  who  was  instrumental 
in  organizing  the  Rock  Creek  Church,  quietly  passed  to 
his  rest  January  3,  after  two  years'  painful  suffering  from 
cancer.  From  1881  to  1886,  the  Anniversaries  were  held  at 
Wi}at  Cheer,  loka,  Sigourney,  South  English,  What  Cheer 
again  and  Fremont.  Its  records  were  kept  for  the  respec- 
tive years  by  S.  West,  James  McCoy,  West  again,  and  Mc- 
Coy the  last  three  years.  In  1881.  we  find  F.  N.  Byram 
pastor  at  Fairview,  and  in  1882  A.  C.  Edwards  at  Sigourney 
and  Delta.     In  1883  H.  Shallenberger  is  preaching  at  loka 


332  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

and  James  Jeffries  at  AVhat  Cheer,  and  in  1885  A.  H.  Ly- 
ons at  Sigourney.  A  number  of  pastors  in  this  Associa- 
tion have  done  patient  and  steady  worlv  in  their  fields  for 
many  years;  notably  Brother  Gregson  at  Little  Mount, 
fifteen  or  more  years  of  steady  work,  Brother  West  at  South 
Englisli  and  Brother  Frey  at  Sigourney  and  other  points. 
Mention  has  been  made  of  Agricola  Church.  A.  compari- 
son of  this  and  the  Little  Mount  Church,  about  the  same 
distance  in  opposite  directions  from  Montezunm,  the  coun- 
ty seat  of  Poweshielv  county,  will  give  a  fair  illustration  of 
two  opposite  types  of  Church  life.  From  the  organization 
of  the  Agricola  Church  it  was  but  a  very  few  years  until 
it  numbered  160  members,  most  of  whom  had  been  baptized 
into  its  fellowship.  Then  it  began  to  depline  as  rapidly  — 
nothing  to  report,  and  in  about  fourteen  years  from  its  or- 
ganization disappears  from  the  records.  For  three  or  four 
years  S.  E.  Nelson  was  the  successful  pastor,  then  for  a 
few  years  more  there  were  different  supplies,  and  after 
about  eleven  years  no  further  service  reported.  On  the 
other  hand,  from  the  organization  of  the  Little  Mount 
Church  in  1855  Rev.  M.  Grregson,  with  an  occasional  year 
or  two  of  intermission,  has  been  their  steady  pastor,  most 
of  the  time  doubtless  laboring  at  his  own  charges,  and 
though  in  an  obscure  field  witli  limited  opportunities  for 
growth,  there  have  been  many  evidences  of  church  life 
through  at  least  25  years  of  its  existence.  In  1885  there 
12  churches,  7  pastors,  36  baptisms  reported  and  705  mem- 
bers. In  1886  there  is  not  mucli  to  report.  This  Associa- 
tion is  evidently  suffering  depletion  from  the  same  causes 
as  many  others  in  the  older  parts  of  the  State,  and  there 
may  be  causes  peculiar  to  itself.  It  has  no  strong  church- 
es. The  only  church  numbering  100  is  Sigourney.  The 
largest  number  of  baptisms  in  the  last  six  years  was  56  in 
1884.     The  average  per  year  has  been  less  than  30. 


CHAPTER  XXXV 


NoKTH    Eastern    Iowa  —  Tukkey    Rivek    Association. 
Territory   Occupied    by  the    Davenport — Then 
Dubuque— Then   the   Turkey  River  Asso- 
ciation-Organized 1860-1860  TO  ]886. 


yOR  much  of  the  matter  contained  in  this 
Sketch  we  are  indebted  to  a  history  of  the  Tur- 
key  River  Association,  written  by  Rev.  Charles 
E.  Brown  and  printed  in  tlie  minutes  for  1875. 
The  oldest  churches  of  this  Association  were 
found,  first  in  the  Davenport,  and  afterwards  in  the 
Dubuque  Association.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Dubuque 
Association,  held  at  ])elhi  in  1860,  a  resolution  was  pre- 
sented by  Rev.  Charles  E.  Brown  and  adopted,  recom- 
mending a  division  of  the  Association,  and  granting 
letters  of  dismission  for  the  purpose,  to  such  churches  as 
might  desire  to  enter  into  the  formation  of  a  new  Asso- 
ciation on  the  north.  At  a  meeting  of  brethren  inter- 
ested, during  a  recess  of  the  same  S(?ssion,  a  convention  of 
delegates  from  churches  so  desiring,  was  called  to  meet 
at  West  Union  in  the  following  month. 

This  Convention  was  held  in  July,  1860.     An  introduc- 
tory sermon  was  preached  b}'  Elder  Brown.     Elder  John 


334  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Williams,  of  West  Union,  called  the  Convention  to  order. 
Brother  Brown  was  elected  Moderator  and  A.  Bush,  clerk. 
Revs.  George  Scott,  L.  M.  Newell,  E.  G.  O.  Groat  and 
John  Williams  were  appointed  a  committee  to  draft  Con- 
stitution and  By-Laws,  which,  as  reported  by  the  commit- 
tee, were  adopted,  and  the  organization  completed.  The 
churches  named  in  the  organization  are:  Erie,  lUyria,  New 
Oregon,  Oran,  Rossville,  Strawberry  Point,  Vernon  Springs, 
Waukon,  Westfield  and  West  Union.  There  are  10 
churches,  6  pastors  and  352  members.  The  pastors  were: 
George  Scott,  C.  E.  Brown,  James  Schofield,  L.  M.  Newell, 
A.  Bush  and  John  Williams. 

In  his  historical  paper,  Brother  Brown  gives  us  this  in- 
formation concerning  the  beginnings  of  Baptist  work  in 
what  is  now  the  territory  of  the  Turkey  River  Association. 
"The  first  Baptist  Church  in  this  territory  was  organized 
by  Elder  Miles,  in  January,  1841,  at  Winnebago  Mission, 
on  Yellow  River,  in  Allamakee  county,  consisting  of  11 
members.  Elder  Miles  and  some  of  the  members  removed 
to  Wisconsin;  others  left  and  this  pioneer  church  soon 
lost  its  visibility."  This  Elder  Miles  came  from  Indiana 
and  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  first  Baptist  minister  to 
preach  the  Gospel  in  Northeastern  Iowa.  "Two  of  the 
constituent  members  of  this  church  were  still  living  in 
Iowa  in  1875, — John  and  Hiram  Francis — one  in  Clayton 
county  near  National,  the  other  in  Allamakee  near  Ross- 
ville." "The  second  Baptist  Church  within  the  territory 
was  organized  in  1848,  by  Elders  B.  F.  Brabrook,  Ira 
Blanchard  and  C.  E.  Brown,  in  a  settlement  a  short  dis- 
tance northeast  of  Elkader,  and  called  the  First  Baptist 
Church  of  Clayton  county.  Several  persons  were  baptized 
on  the  day  the  church  was  organized."  Elder  Blanchard 
was  instrumental  in  gathering  this  church,  and  traveled  a 
distance  of  40  miles  and  back  to  supply  them  with  preach- 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  335 

ing  once  a  month.  In  1849  we  find  this  church  represented 
by  Rev.  Ira  Blanchard  in  the  State  Convention,  meeting  at 
Iowa  City.  Also  in  the  report  of  the  Executive  Board  of 
the  Convention  made  at  this  same  meeting,  it?  is  stated  that 
Rev.  Ira  Blanchard,  on  the  2nd  of  October,  1848,  was  re- 
commended to  the  Home  Mission  Society,  "  to  preach  at  the 
Delaware  county,  Cascade,  Fairview  and  Clayton  county 
churches,  with  an  appropriation  of  $100  for  one  year.  The 
first  statistical  account  we  have  of  this  church  is  in  1861, 
when  in  the  Davenport  Association  it  is  named  without  a 
pastor,  with  these  statistics.  Received  by  letter  11;  by  ex- 
perience 1;  dismissed  21;  died  1;  present  number  15.  Soon 
after,  or  about  this  time  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Clay- 
ton county  ceased  to  exist.  These  organizations  represent 
the  first  beginnings  of  Baptist  work  in  Northeast  Iowa. 

The  third  organization  was  at  West  Union,  in  1852. 
"On  the  19th  day  of  May,  1853,  this  church  resolved  to 
purchase  a  lot  and  proceed  to  erect  a  small  house  of  wor- 
ship, not  to  exceed  in  size  20x26  feet.  This  was  the  first 
meeting  house  built  in  the  territory  of  this  Association. 
The  second  was  built  by  the  church  at  Strawberry  Point 
and  dedicated  August,  1857.  Of  the  field  to  be  cultivated 
by  this  new  Association,  Rev.  George  Scott  says  in  a  report 
to  the  convention  in  the  fall  of  1860,  "It  embraces  a  terri- 
tory of  a  little  more  than  3,346  square  miles,  with  a  popu- 
lation of  no  less  than  60,000.  It  has  within  its  bounds 
only  three  Baptist  Church  edifices,  and  one  of  these  is  so 
small  that  it  is  not  occupied.  Allowing  the  other  two  to 
afford  accommodations  for  500  each — which  is  probably 
beyond  their  capacity- -we  have  sanctuary  accommodations 
for  only  one  in  sixty,  and  one  minister  to  8,571  souls. 
Truly  the  field  is  already  white  to  the  harvest." 

The  first  anniversary  of   the  Association  was  held  at 


B36  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Waukon  September  6tli,   1861.     Rev.  A.   Busli   preached 

the  introductorv  sermon,  from   Galatians  YI:2. 
1  RR  1  " 

Rev.    J.    Schofield   was   chosen    Moderator   and 

Alva  Bush  clerk.     Tlie^  Baptist  church  at  McGrregor  was 

received  into  the  Association  with  28  members,  Rev.  L.  M. 

Whitman  pastor.     They  have  just  completed   a  house  of 

worship  and  bid  fair  to  exert  an  extensive  influence  in  the 

community  and    the  Association.     There  are  now  in  the 

Association  13  churches,  7  pastors,   10  persons  baptized 

during  the  year,  and  418  members.  The  pastors  are  George 

Scott,    Strawberry  Point    and   Erie;  C.    E.    Brown,   Lime 

Springs  and  Yernon  Springs;  L.  M.  Whitman.  McGregor; 

J.  A.  Pool,  Rossville  ;  J.   Schofield,  Waukon;  A.   Bush, 

Westfield,  and  John  Williams,  West  Union. 

The  second  annual  meeting  was  held  with  the  McGregor 

Church  Friday,  June  13,  1862,  the  time  of  meeting  having 

been   changed  from   September   to   June.      The 
1  RR  9 

introductory  sermon  was  by  Rev.  John  AYilliams 

of  West  Union,  from  1st  Timoth}^  1:11,  ''The  glorious 
gospel  of  the  blessed  God.''  Brother  Williams  was  chosen 
Moderator,  and  G.  M.  Colgate  of  McGregor  clerk.  Some 
evidence  of  revival  appears  in  the  statistics.  Two  new 
churches  have  been  organized  this  year;  the  Union  Church 
at  Pleasant  Ridge  with  41  members,  of  whom  35  were  re- 
ceived by  baptism,  and  the  Paint  Creek  Church  with  14, 
of  whom  9  have  been  baptized  during  the  j^ear.  Seventy- 
three  baptisms  reported  and  525  members.  The  name  of 
Brother  Scott  is  not  found,  but  reappears  two  years  later 
in  the  Western  Iowa  Association.  Brother  James  Sunder- 
land is  preaching  at  Strawberry  Point.  Among  the  visitors 
is  Brother  Jackson  of  Milwaukee,  who  soon  after  becomes 
pastor  at  McGregor,  Elder  Whitman  having  resigned.  At 
Rossville  Rev.  John  A.  Pool  had  baptized  27  of  the  73 
reported.  • 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  337 

The  Third   Anniversaiy  was   at  West   Union,  in  1863. 
May  27,  Elder  John  A.  Pool  preached  the  sermon.     Moder- 

,  „  „„  ator  C.  E.  Brown,  clerk  G.  M.  Colgate  of  McGreg- 
1  obo. 

gor.     Brother  Bush  read  a  Circular   Letter  upon 

the  "Importance  of  Love  for  the  Church.''  The  Fourth 
Anniversary  was  held  at  Strawberry  Point  in  1864.  Eev. 
John  Jackson  preached  the  sermon,  C.  E.  Brown,  Modera- 
tor, Brother  Colgate  again  clerk.  The  Volga  City  Church 
was  received  and  the  Hardin  Church  dropped.  Brother 
Sunderland  read  a  Circular  Letter  upon  "  The  Importance 
of  Fidelity  in  Maintaining  our  Denominational  Principles.  " 
Rev.  J,  B.  Ward  is  preaching  at  Ward's  Corners  and  Fay- 
ette, and  F.  Hill  at  West  Union.  Pastor  John  Jackson  is 
succeeded  at  McCirregor  by  Rev.  C.  T.  Tucker.  The  begin- 
ning of  an  honorable  record  of  service  for  the  Master  in 
Iowa.  Brother  Sunderland  supplies  the  new  church  at 
Volga  City  in  connection  with  his  home  church  at  Straw- 
berry Point. 

The  Fifth   Anniversary  in  1865  was   at    Rossville,  com- 
mencing on  Friday,  June  2.    Brother  Tucker  presiding  and 
Deacon  Colgate  still  clerk.     Sermon   by  Brother 

1    p « R  ^  "^ 

Sunderland.  The  Ossian  Church  was  received. 
Rev.  J.  M.  Wedgewood  pastor.  Organized  in  April,  1864. 
The  McGrregor  Church  have  been  specially  prospered,  re- 
porting 33  baptized,  Volga  City  10,  and  Ossian  7;  whole 
number  of  baptisms  57,  members  563.  In  1866  McGregor 
was  the  place  of  meeting.  Preacher  and  Moderator,  James 
Sunderland,  clerk  unchanged.  The  York  Church  on  Bro. 
Sunderland's  field  was  received  with  14  members.  The 
Paint  Creek  and  lUyria  Churches  have  become  extinct. 
This  was  an  inspiring  session.  The  clerk  made  this  mem- 
orandum. "On  Monday  morning  the  delegates  separated 
for  their  homes  delighted  with  their  pleasant  visit  and  suc- 
cessful anniversary,  while  the  friends  in  McGregor  felt  sad 


338  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

that  the  session  was  not  of  longer  duration. ''  Collections 
were  taken  amounting  to  $73.10  for  the  Convention,  and 
$55.91  for  the  Missionary  Union.  The  present  writer  had 
the  honor  of  taking  that  collection  for  the  Convention, 
Rev.  C.  F.  Tolman  representing  the  Missionary  Union. 
Rev.  C.  D.  Farnsworth  was  at  the  time  pastor  at  Rossville 
and  Waukon.  Other  pastors  were  Ward,  Wedgewood  and 
Sunderland,  Brother  Tucker  having  about  this  time  closed 
his  labors  at  McGregor  and  removed  to  Charles  City,  Iowa. 

In  1867  the  Anniversary  was  at  Strawberry  Point.  The 
opening  sermon  was  delivered  by  Elder  J.  B.  Ward  of 
Ward's  Corners.  Rev.  F.  Kidder  Moderator, 
Colgate  clerk.  Only  six  baptisms  reported. 
Rev.  John  Jackson  returned  to  the  pastorate  at  McGregor 
aud  died  during  the  year,  greatly  beloved  and  lamented. 
Deacon  George  M.  Colgate  of  McGregor,  the  excellent  cferk 
of  this  Association  since  1862,  also  "died  full  of  faith  and 
good  works. "  Brother  Colgate  was  connected  with  the 
well-known  Colgate  family  of  NewYork,  and  did  not  fail, 
by  his  earnest  and  christian  life,  to  honor  tlie  name  here  in 
the  west.  Rev.  F.  Kidder  is  the  pastor  and  able  preacher 
at  Strawberry  Point  and  Volga  City.  D.  S.  Starr,  at  Wau- 
kon and  West  Union,  is  Missionary  of  the  Association  and 
Convention.  Rev.  A.  W.  Hilton  began  about  this  time  a 
few  years  of  earnest  and  self-sacrificing  work  in  this  part 
of  Iowa.  This  was  the  fifth  consecutive  anniversary  of  the 
Turkey  River  Association  that  the  writer  had  attended.  As 
we  write,  this  history  of  the  Association  during  the  event- 
ful years  of  the  "Sixties"  seems  like  a  part  of  our  own  his- 
tory. The  Eighth  Anniversary  was  held  with  the  church 
at  West  Union  in  1868.  Sermon  by  Rev.  F.  Kidder,  who 
was  elected  Moderator,  and  J.  M.  Wedgewood  clerk.  Some 
advance  movement  is  apparent  in  the  reports.  Nearly  all 
the  churches  are  supplied  with  preaching  at  least  a  part  of 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  339 

the  time.  Three  new  churches  have  been  organized,  viz. : 
Decorah,  Castalia,  and  Grand  Meadow, 'under  the  labors  re- 
spectively of  Brethren  Starr, Wedgewood,  and  Hilton.  Rev. 
J.  M.  Stiller  (now  Dr.  Stiller  ol:  Penn.,)  supplied  the  church 
at  McGregor  for  a  time.  Volga  City  was  supplied  by  A.  G. 
Emery,  a  member  of  the  church.  Whole  number  of  bap- 
tisms 39,  members  540.  In  1869  the  ninth  annual  meeting 
was  at  Ward's  Corners.  A.  W.  Hilton  preached  the  ser- 
mon. Deacon  Benjamin  Morse  of  West  Union  was  Mod- 
erator, L.  F.  Carrier  of  Strawberry  Point  clerk.  Rev.  R, 
P,  Powers  was  pastor  at  Fayette  and  West  Union,  P.  S. 
Whitman  at  Lime  Springs,  S.  Sill  at  Strawberry  Point, 
and  W.  Chapman  at  Vernon  Springs,  besides  pastors  be- 
fore named.  The  church  at  Ward's  Corners  was  formerly 
the  Erie  Church.  Rains  and  high  waters  greatly  hindered 
the  success  of  the  meeting  in  1869. 

The  tenth  anniversary  in  1870  was  at  Rossville,  preach- 
er S.  Sill,  Moderator  J.  M.  Wedgewood,  clerk  L.  F.  Carrier. 
The  Taylorsville  Church  was  organized  in  1870,  F. 
Kidder  pastor.  Rev,  W.  C.  Wright  is  preaching 
at  McGregor,  L.  L.  Frisk  at  Waukon,  and  C.  J.  B.  Jackson 
at  West  Union.  Also  C.  Spragg  at  Volga  City.  There  are 
now  (1870)  16  churches,  12  pastors,  30  baptisms  reported, 
and  605  members.  The  largest  church  as  to  membership  is 
Ward's  Corners,  with  71.  Only  three  others  have  over  50,  and 
no  church  in  the  Association  has  ever  had  100  any  one  year. 
Met  in  1871  at  McGregor.  Rev.  W.  Chapman,  pastor  for 
two  or  three  years  at  Vernon  Springs,  preached  the  ser- 
mon, Moderator  C.  E.  Brown,  clerk  Carrier.  Rev.  F. 
Kidder  has  succeeded  S.  Sill  at  Strawberry  Point.  Lime 
Springs  entertained  the  body  in  1872.  Brother  Wedge- 
wood  preached  the  sermon,  C.  E.  Brown  clerk.  Brother 
Hilton  closed,  about  this  time,  his  labors  in  this  part  of 
the  state,  and  another  year  will  be  found  in  Western  Iowa. 


340  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Rev.  D.  p.  Maiyatt  is  supplying  Council  Hill,  J,  H.  Beach 
Forrestville,  Thomas  Lire  Lime  Springs,  and  G.  M.  Adams 
at  Waukon.  Forrestville  Church  was  received  in  1871. 
Decorah  and  Tajlorsville  Churches  have  disappeared.  In 
1873  met  at  Waukon,  C.  E.  Brown  preacher  and  Moderator, 
Thomas  Ure  clerk.  Rev.  E.  K.  Cressey,  preaching  at  Mc- 
Gregor, reported  36  baptized,  Brother  Ure  at  West  Union 
6,  Lime  Springs  6,  and  Castalia  2.  Total  baptisms  50, 
members  551.  Rev.  J.  E.  Rockwood  was  present  represent- 
ing the  Baptist  Sundaj^  School  Union.  Brother  Ure 
preached  an  annual  missionary  sermon,  and  a  collection  of 
$40  was  taken  for  the  Convention.  The  Forrestville  and 
Volga  City  Churches  disappear  from  the  records.  Waukon 
and  West  Union  are  engaged  in  building. 

The  anniversary  in  1874  was  at  Strawberry  Point.  Rev. 
F.  Kidder  preached  the  opening  sermon.  Thomes  Ure, 
clerk.  Rev.  E.  P.  Dye  is  preaching  at  Rossville 
and  reports  65  baptisms,  Council  Hill  reports 
16,  and  Rev.  L.  M.  Whiting  is  pastor  at  Strawberry  Point 
and  reports  a  new  organization  at  Edgewood,  with  13  bap- 
tisms and  42  members.  Whole  number  of  churches  14; 
pastors  6;  baptisms  106;  members  671.  A  revival  has  been 
enjo^^ed,  greater,  seeminglj^,  than  ever  before  in  this  Asso- 
ciation. The  Fifteenth  Anniversary  in  1875  was  held  at 
McGregor.  L.  M.  Whiting,  annual  preacher.  J.  M.  Wedge- 
wood,  Moderator,  Thomas  Ure,  clerk.  Rev.  J.  C.  Douglass 
preaclied  for  a  short  time  at  West  Union.  At  this  meeting 
Rev.  Charles  E.  Brown  read  his  history  of  the  Association 
for  our  indebtedness  to  which  acknowledgment  was  made 
in  the  beginning  of  this  Sketch.  Brother  Morse  wrote  a 
circular  letter  which  was  adopted  and  ordered  printed  in 
the  Minutes. 

The  annual  meeting  in  1876  was  at  West  Union.     A.  A. 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  341 

Johnson,  of  A¥est  Union,  clerk.     A  cliurcli  had  been  organ- 
ized at  Clearmont,  and  appears  upon  the  records 

-1  QVP) 

with  10  members,  and  Volga  City  is  restored 
with  12.  A  committee,  consisting  of  Brethren  Whiting, 
Wedgewood  and  Williams,  had  been  appointed  to  visit 
the  brethren  at  Volga  City  during  June,  1875.  Rev.  John 
Brown  is  their  pastor.  Brother  Wedgewood  is  still  pastor  at 
Waukon,  the  only  old  pastor  left.  Rev.  L.  M.  Whiting  has 
removed  from  Strawberry  Point  to  Manchester,  Epwortli  and 
Farley  in  the  Dubuque  Asssociation.  Rev.  C.  H.  Mitchel- 
more  is  at  Strawberry  Point.  Tlie  great  revival  at  Ross- 
ville  two  years  before  had  been  followed  by  the  usual 
reaction,  but  they  rejoice  that  some  seed  fell  upon  good 
ground  and  is  bringing  forth  fruit  to  the  glory  of  God. 
In  1877  Clearmont  was  the  place  of  meeting.  A.  A.  John- 
son, clerk.  Rev.  C.  E.  Brown  has  again  taken  up  the  gos- 
pel trumpet  at  Lime  Springs.  Rev.  M.  H.  Perry  is  pro- 
claiming the  glad  tidings  at  West  Union  and  Clearmont. 

Castalia  entertained  the  meeting  in  3878.  Brother 
Johnson  still  clerk.  Rev.  F.  N.  Eldridge  has  succeeded 
Brother  Wedgewood  at  Waukon.  The  Vernon 
Springs  Church  has  disappeared  and  Cresco 
Church  seems  to  take  its  place.  Randalia  has  a  church  of 
34  members,  of  whom  13  have  been  baptiy>ed  during  the 
year,  Rev.  M.  H.  Perry  pastor  in  connection  with  West 
Union.  Rev.  E.  W.  Green  is  the  preacher  at  Cresco  and 
Lime  Springs.  In  1879  Rossville  was  the  place  of  meeting. 
Rev.  J.  C.  Harrington  appears  as  preacher  at  Ward's  Corners. 
Brother  Green  at  Cresco  is  sustained  by  the  Convention, 
and  a  meeting  house  is  the  great  need  there.  From  1880 
to  1886  the  anniversaries  have  been  at  Ward's  Corners, 
Cresco,  Waukon,  West  Union,  Strawberry  Point,  Lime 
Springs,  and  Rossville.     A.  A.  Johnson  continued  to  serve 


342  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

as  clerk  until  1885,  when  Rev.  F.  W.  C.  Wiggin  was  clerk, 
and  in  1886  F.  Y.  Whitmore. 

A  church  had  been  organized  at  Fort  Atkinson  in  1880, 
and  Elder  C.  E.  Brown  was  pastor.  Rev.  E.  W.  Green 
baptized  16  at  Cresco.  Rev.  A.  F.  Sharpnack  is 
at  Strawberry  Point,  and  R.  H.  Shafto  at 
Ward's  Corners.  M.  H.  Perry  has  removed  from  the  Asso- 
ciation and  become  pastor  at  Fredericksburg,  in  the  Cedar 
Valley.  The  Castalia,  Edgewood  and  Grand  Meadow 
Churches  have  disappeared  from  the  list.  In  1881  Rev.  E. 
W.  Green  had  removed  to  Wisconsin  and  A.  H.  Carman 
had  succeeded  him  at  Cresco,  and  F.  N.  Eldridge  from 
Waukon  to  Shenandoah  in  Southwestern  Iowa.  But  M, 
H.  Perry  had  returned  and  was  preaching  at  Waukon. 
Rev.  A.  C.  Nichols  began  labor  about  this  time  at  West 
Union.  The  McGregor  Church  made  no  report.  But  two 
baptisms  were  reported  in  the  Association.  These  were  in 
Waukon.  Rev.  A.  F.  Sharpnack  removed  from  Strawberry 
Point  to  Audubon,  in  the  west  part  of  the  State.  In  1882 
Brother  Perry  appeared  at  Strawberry  Point  and  Ward's 
Corners,  and  Rev.  Robert  Smith  was  pastor  at  Waukon. 
Only  11  persons  were  baptized  and  the  membership  485.  In 
1883  Pastor  Robert  Smith  immersed  12,  buttlierewas  little 
other  advance.  In  1884  Rev.  E.  R.  Pierce  appeared  as 
preacher  at  Lime  Springs.  Brethren  Carman  and  Perry 
are  the  only  other  pastors.  The  McGregor  Church  finally 
disappears  from  the  records.  This  is  the  saddest  case  of 
church  mortality  in  our  knowledge.  A  live  town  like  Mc- 
Gregor! A  church  containing  the  live  elements  that  this 
once  did,  with  a  good  live  Sabbath  School,  become  com- 
pletely extinct!     Can   this  be  the  final  end^ 

In  1885  Rev.  F.  W.   C.   Wiggin   had  been   laboring  at 
Waukon  and  perhaps  some  other  points  with  marked  sue- 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  ^  343 

cess.  Baptisms  at  Waukon  23,  Cresco  15,  West  Union  15, 
Rossville  7,  Lime  Springs  6,  and  Hawkeye  and  Strawberry 
Point  one  each.  Whole  number  of  baptisms  68,  members 
511.  Brother  J.  O.  Dean  was  preaching  at  Olwein  and 
Randalia.  Rev.  M.  H.  Perry  removes  to  western  Iowa, 
and  after  a  brief  stay  in  the  Sioux  Valley  is  found  preach- 
ing at  Silver  City  in  southwestern  Iowa  The  year 
1886  found  Rev.  G.  H.  Starring  at  Waukon,  and 
P.  Bower  at  West  Union.  Other  pastors  are  Carman, 
Wedge  wood,  Brown  and  Kidder.  Number  baptized  33, 
members  519.  From  reports  since  the  annual  meeting 
there  is  reason  to  hope  for  an  increase  and  a  better  report 
in  1887.  The  Turkey  River  Association  occupies  the  terri- 
tory comprising  the  counties  of  Fayette,  Clayton,  Allama- 
kee, Winneshiek  and  Howard.  It  has  been  from  the  first 
a  most  unfavorable  soil  for  the  growth  of  Baptist  churches, 
and  as  time  has  wrought  its  usual  changes  in  the  character 
of  the  populations  the  unfavorable  conditions  have  in- 
creased instead  of  diminishing.  A  large  part  of  the  popu- 
lation of  the  counties  named  is  foreign,  and  the  Catholic 
church  has  here  a  very  strong  hold  and  is  increasing  that 
hold  by  buying  out  the  settlers  who  remove  farther  west. 
There  is  also  a  large  Scandinavian  population  which  is 
anti-Baptistic.  The  largest  Norwegian  College  in  the  west 
is  located  within  the  territory  of  this  Association  at  Deco- 
rah.  The  brethren  who  have  labored  on  and  held  on  in 
this  barren  field  are  worthy  of  all  praise  for  their  fidelity 
to  the  principles  we  all  hold  dear. 

The  church  at  Strawberry  Point  has  had  a  history  that 
is  worthy  of  special  mention.  Organized  in  1856,  it  ap- 
peared in  the  Dubuque  Association  with  21  members  that 
year.  Rev.  George  Scott  pastor.  This  brother  seems  to 
have  remained  as  pastor  most  of  the  time  for  six  or  seven 
years.     The  growth  was  never  rapid  nor  did  it  ever  attain 


344 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 


to  a  large  membership  even  for  a  village  church,  but  among 
those  connected  with  it  have  been  some  of  the  brightest 
families  that  Iowa  has  known,  and  from  its  ranks  have 
come  such  workers  as  Rev.  Alva  Bush,  James  Sunderland 
and  wife  and  John  E.  Clough  and  wife.  Brother  Clough 
may  not  have  been  at  any  time  a  member  of  this  church, 
yet  his  home  was  there,  and  his  wife's  family,  and  they  are 
intimately  associated  in  the  thought  of  many  with  Straw- 
berry point.  Few  churches  are  so  honored  in  this  respect. 
Brother  Scott's  ministry  at  this  place  was  one  of  faith  if  not 
of  sight.  His  account  of  their  struggle  to  get  a  meeting 
house,  we  well  remember.  They  had  come  to  a  stand -still 
financially  and  the  work  had  to  stop.  Money  was  not  to 
be  had.  Finally  the  pastor  went  out  among  the  farmers, 
and  prevailed  with  them  to  consecrate,  perhaps  one  a  colt, 
anotl}er  a  calf  or  a  pig,  etc.,  etc.  These  animals  to  be  tak- 
en care  of  by  the  donors  until  ready  for  market,  when  they 
became  the  property  ol  the  church  and  were  sold,  and  the 
work  completed  and  paid  for. 


CHAPTER  XXXYI. 

North   and  West — The   Great   Northern  Valley  of 

THE  Des  Moines  River — 1852 — Upper  Des 

Moines  Association  Organized 

IN  1860— 1860  to  1870. 

E  desire  hereby  to  acknowledo-e  indebtedness, 
in  tlie  preparation  of  this  sketch,  to  N.  E. 
Gfoldthwaite,  Esq.,  o£  Boone,  Iowa,  for  a 
painstaking  history  furnished  by  him  to  the 
Historical  Committee  of  the  State  Conven- 
tion in  1884,  and  used  extensively  in  our 
preparation  of  this  chapter.  In  his  paper  Brother  Gold- 
thwaite  says:  "The  territory  embraced  in  this  Association 
consists  of  the  counties  of  Story,  Boone,  Green,  Calhoun, 
Webster,  Hamilton,  Wright,  Humbolt,  Pocahontas,  Palo 
Alto,  Kossuth,  and  half  of  one  or  two  others,  or  about 
one-seventh  part  of  the  state  of  Iowa.  The  population,  by 
the  census  of  1880,  was  126,519.  In  climate,  soil,  surface, 
minerals,  timber  and  well  watered  prairies  it  is  probably 
unsurpassed  by  any  other  region  of  equal  extent  on  the 
face  of  the  globe.  In  the  last  few  years  this  vast  extent  of 
arable  land,  containing  over  6,000,000  acres,  has  been 
penetrated  in  every  direction  by  railways  and  telegraphs, 
while  little  towns,  centers  of  future  populations,  are  spring- 
ing up  with  wonderful  vigor  and  rapidity."  A  grand  "field 
for  planting  and   watering   the   germs  of    future  gospel 


346  HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES 

cliurclies  ! ''  "Tlie  history  of  Baptist  work  in  tliis  territory 
dates  back  as  far  as  1851.  About  that  time  Rev.  Wm.  J. 
Sparks,  formerly  of  North  Carolina,  came  from  Indiana 
and  settled  near  the  Des  Moines  River  in  Boone  county. 
Father  Sparks  was  one  of  that  numerous  class  of  non-slave- 
holding  whites  who  tied  with  their  families  from  the 
blighting  influence  of  human  chattelism  to  enjoy  the  free 
institutions  of  the  North.  Many  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Boone  county  were  of  this  class.  Very  soon  after  the 
arrival  of  Brother  Sparks  appear  evidences  of  his  work, 
extending  from  the  southwest  part  of  Boone  count}^  to 
Homer,  in  Hamilton  county."  The  North  Union  Baptist 
Church,  now  five  or  six  miles  south  of  Moingona,  was 
the  first  Baptist  church  organized  in  the  large  territory 
now  occupied  b}^  this  Association.  This  was  in  1852,  and 
was  probably  at  that  time  the  farthest  northwest  of  any 
Baptist  church  in  existence  on  this  continent,  unless  Ezra 
Fisher  or  Hezekiah  Johnson,  who  left  Iowa  for  Oregon,  the 
one  in  1844,  and  the  other  in  1845,  may  have  founded 
churches  on  that  far  distant  coast  at  an  earlier  date  than 
that  of  which  we  now  write.  This  they  and  other  pioneers 
to  the  Oregon  coast  undoubtedly  did.  But  taking  our 
stand  with  this  infant  church  at  North  Union  34  years 
ago  as  we  now  write,  (1886)  we  may  safely  assume  that 
there  is  not,  in  this  vast  expanse  between  us  and  the  Pacific 
Slope,  a  single  Baptist  church. 

In  1851,  it  is  true,  one  3'ear  prior  to  the  organization  of 
this  church  there  is  mention  of  a  church  at  Corey  Grove, 
near  the  line  between  Polk  and  Story  counties,  that 
might  be  considered  as  bordering  on  the  territory  of  this 
Association  and  should  have  mention  here,  but  this  church 
is  simpl}^  named  in  the  minutes  of  the  Central  Associ- 
ation— then  occupying  this  ground — with  10  members,  but 
no  other  statistics,   for  a  few  years   and   then   disappears. 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  347 

The  following  account  of  the  organization  of  the  North 
Union  Church  is  from  Rev.  E.  G.  O.  Groat,  at  one  time  (la- 
ter) pastor  of  the  church,  and  is  evidently  taken  from 
the  church  records.  "Perry  township,  Boone  county, 
Iowa,  February,  1852,  a  few  brethren  and  sisters  met  on 
Saturday  before  the  second  Sabbath  to  consult  whether 
they  would  unite  in  constituting  a  church.  It  was  resolved  to 
proceed  to  organization.  Letters  were  read  recommending 
Rev.  Wm.  J.  Sparks,  Sarah  Sparks,  Jesse  Williams,  Susan- 
nah Williams,  Samuel  Williams,  and  Susannah  Hursh, 
Organized  by  choosing  Wm.  J.  Sparks  Moderator  and 
Samuel  Williams  clerk.  As  there  were  no  other  churches 
in  the  country  for  many  miles  from  which  to  get  helpers, 
therefore  the  church  was  constituted  by  Elder  Wm.  J. 
Sparks  and  called  the  Union  Baptist  Church.  The  door 
was  opened  for  the  reception  of  members,  and  John  King 
was  received  by  relation  and  Linda  Hurst  by  experience." 
Rev.  Wm.  J.  Sparks  became  pastor  and  Samuel  Williams 
clerk.  In  August  1852  Articles  of  Faith  were  adopted. 
The  church  prospered  and  gathered  many  members,  reach- 
ing out  north,  south,  east  and  west  for  many  miles  around. 
Members  were  received  by  letter,  others  were  baptized. 
The  church  extended  an  arm  into  Webster  county,  another 
into  the  north  part  of  Boone  county,  and  still  another  arm 
to  the  east  side  of  the  river,  which  afterwards  became  the 
Boonsboro  Church. 

In  July,  1853,  a  number  of  members  were  dismissed  to 
form  the  Great  Bend  Church,  in  Webster  county,  and 
August  13,  1853,  several  more  received  letters  to  form  the 
Mount  Pleasant  Church,  at  Mineral  Ridge.  It  has  also  con- 
tributed to  nearly  all  the  churches  for  many  miles  around, 
both  members  and  ministers.  These  churches  remained 
unassociated  until  1854,  when  the  North  Union  Church 
appears  as  connected  with  the  Central  Iowa  Association, 


348  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

and  reports  29  baptized  and  31  received  by  letter  and  experi- 
ence. The  total  membership  is  reported — probably  by 
mistake — at  only  17.  It  may  have  been,  however,  that  the 
baptisms  and  additions  were  the  total  since  the  organiza- 
tion, and  include  those  in  the  organizations  that  have  gone 
out;  for  the  next  year  North  Union  reports  but  21.  There 
also  appears  in  the  Minutes  of  the  Central  Association,  in 
1851,  a  church  called  Boon  Forks,  W.  J.  Sparks,  pastor, 
reporting  8  baptisms,  4  received  in  other  ways  and  22  mem- 
bers. This  church  continued  to  be  reported  under  this 
name  for  several  years,  and  then  disappeared.  It  was  prob- 
ably the  station  at  or  near  Homer,  where  Elder  Sparks  is 
noticed  as  preaching  in  these  early  days.  The  churches 
at  Swede  Bend  and  Mount  Pleasant,  formed  by  dismis- 
sions from  North  Union  in  1852,  as  noted  above,  do  not 
appear  associated  for  several  years  yet.  In  1855  a  church 
was  organized  at  Iowa  Center  and  reports  14  members. 
Rev.  Ira  H.  Rees,  pastor.  Brother  Rees  was  probably 
the  second  pastor  on  this  great  field.  He  came  from  Indi- 
ana in  1855  and  located  in  Story  county.  In  1858  we  find 
Brother  Rees  appointed  by  the  Convention  Board  to  labor 
in  Boone  and  Story  counties.  In  a  report  drawn  up  by  Rev. 
T.  S.  Griffith,  secretary  of  the  convention,  we  find  these 
words:  "It  has  fallen  to  him  to  lay  foundations  where 
none  have  preceded  him.  A  church  has  been  organized  at 
Boonesboro,  which  he  makes  the  center  of  his  labors. 
Baptist  sentiments  find  favor  with  the  people,  and  if  he 
can  be  sustained  we  may  reasonably  expect  to  see  large 
returns  for  the  means  expended  upon  this  important  sec- 
tion of  the  State."    He  had  baptized  12  persons. 

We  have  dwelt  thus  upon  the  history  of  Baptist  work 
preliminary  to  the  organization  of  this  Association  for  the 
reason  that  it  is  the  beginning,  in  a  very  large  and  repre- 
sentative section,  of  our  great  Baptist,  as  well  as  civil  cohi- 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  349 

monwealth.  In  1858  Rev.  O.  A.  Holmes  removed  from 
Maquoketa,  Jackson  county,  to  Webster  City,  and  we  find 
there  an  unassociated  church  of  12  members,  and  in  1859 
still  unassociated  with  31  members,  of  whom  12  have  been 
added  by  baptism  and  19  from  all  sources.  Brother 
Holmes  was  probably  the  third  minister  on  this  entire  field, 
though  in  the  same  year  we  find  the  name  of  J.  Corey 
preaching  at  Iowa  Center,  and  it  may  be  that  he 
was  at  Corey  Grove  in  the  organization  there  in  1851.  In 
1860  we  find  mention  in  the  Central  Association  of  "the 
dismission  of  five  churches  to  form  a  new  association. 
Accordingly,  the  Upper  Des  Moines  Association  was  organ- 
ized in  1860,  at  a  meeting  held  with  the  Mount  Pleasant 
Church,  in  Boone  county.  Rev.  O.  A.  Holmes  preached 
an  opening  sermon  and  was  elected  Moderator.  The 
churches  represented  in  the  organization  were:  Great  Bend, 
Jno.  D.  Cassaday,pa8tor,  23  members;  Mount  Pleasant,  Wm. 
J.  Sparks,  89;  North  Union,  W.  J.  Sparks,  35;  Swede  Bend, 
L.  L.  Frisk,  25;  Squaw  Creek,  no  pastor,  8,  and  Webster 
City,  O.  A.  Holmes,  48.  Webster  City  reported  27  bap- 
tisms that  year,  Mount  Pleasant  4,  and  Swede  Bend  6. 
There  were  therefore  in  the  organization  6  churches,  4  pas- 
tors, 37  baptisms  reported  and  178  members.  Rev.  Ira  H. 
Rees  was  the  clerk.  There  were  at  the  time,  in  the  State, 
sixteen  associations,  246  churches  and  11,484  members. 
Besides  the  churches  mentioned  above  as  organized  by 
Rev.  Wm.  J.  Sparks,  was  another  in  the  western  part  of 
Boone  or  eastern  part  of  Greene  county  called  Buffalo 
Grove,  in  1858.  This  organization,  which  continued  only 
for  one  year,  is  noticed  in  the  history  of  the  Western  Iowa 
Association. 

The  Association  met  at  Great  Bend.  Rev.  Wm.  J. 
Sparks  preached  the  sermon,  O.  A.  Holmes  Moderator  and 
I.  H.  Rees  clerk.   Churches  at  Algona,  Boonsboro  and  Fort 


350  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Dodge,  all  organized  in  1861,  are  added  with  18,  13  and  10 
members  respectively.  The  organization  by  Brother  Rees 
at  Boonsboro  in  1858,  seems  to  have  become 
extinct,  hence  the  new  organization.  L,  L. 
Frisk  is  pastor  at  Boonsboro  and  Swede  Bend,  O.  A. 
Holmes  at  Fort  Dodge  and  Webster  City,  J.D.  Cassaday  at 
Great  Bend,  Wm.  J.  Sparks  at  Mt.  Pleasant  and  North 
Union,  and  I.  H.  Rees  at  Squaw  Creek.  Churches  9,  pas- 
tors 5,  baptisms  8;  total  membership  234. 

Met  at  North  Union  in  Father  Sparks'  barn.  Preacher, 
O.  A.  Holmes,  who  is  again  Moderator,  and  I.  H.  Rees, 
clerk.  "It  is  evidently  a  year  of  dearth,  and 
walkingby  faith  not  by  sight.  Only  two  persons 
added  by  baptism  and  only  ten  added  in  all. "  The  name 
of  L.  L.  Frisk  disappears  from  the  list  and  no  new  pastor 
is  added.  In  a  report  to  the  Convention  of  this  meeting. 
Brother  Rees  says,  "We  were  permitted  to  enjo}^  a  very 
harmonious  and  pleasant  session.  We  occupy  a  very  im- 
portant field.  The  whole  of  the  northern  valley  of  the  Des 
Moines  River  seems  in  the  Providence  of  God,  to  be  our 
field.  Our  churches  are  weak.  We  pray  and  have  faith 
in  the  Great  Head  of  the  church,  that  these  churches  will 
yet  be,  under  God,  strong  and  efficient.  We  are  now  lay- 
ing the  foundation  upon  which  future  generations  are  to 
build.  We  hope  to,  under  God,  lay  the  foundation  in  the 
right  direction  upon  the  missionary  question.  We  have 
spread  upon  our  Minutes  a  request  for  each  member  to  do 
something  each  year  for  missionary  purposes. '' 

Webster  City  is  the  place  of  meeting.  Ira  H.  Rees 
preached  the  annual  sermon.  Holmes  Moderator,  Rees 
-,  op^a  clerk.  Churches  10,  baptized  16,  whole  number 
239,  pastors  5.  Rev.  A.  W.  Russell  is  preaching 
at  Boonsboro  and  Fort  Dodge.  A  church  was  organized  at 
Iowa  Falls  in  1862,  and  is  received  this  year  with  20  mem- 


OF  IOWA    BAPTISTS.  351 

bers.  Rev.  O.  A.  Holmes  is  dividing  his  time  between  this 
and  the  Webster  City  church.  Three  baptisms  were 
reported  at  Squaw  Creek,  6  at  Webster  City,  4  at  Boons- 
boro,  2  at  Great  Bend  and  one  at  Swede  Bend,  We  have 
in  the  annual  report  of  the  State  Convention  for  1863,  drawn 
up  by  Bro.  J.  P.  Childs,  the  Secretary,  a  most  striking  view 
of  the  situation  of  the  great  field  largely  dependent  then 
upon  this  little  Association  for  the  means  of  grace.  The 
report  says:  '*  Supposing  for  the  present  the  eye  be  turned 
from  three-fourths  of  the  State,  *  *  "  and  turn  it  upon 
the  north-western  part  of  the  State  included  in  a  line 
directly  north  of  the  capitol,  to  Minnesota,  and  west  from 
the  same  place  of  beginning  to  the  Missouri  River.  This 
includes  about  40  counties,  many  of  whicli  are  pretty  well 
settled,  and  in  many  of  them  are  centres  of  important  rail- 
road, commercial  and  social  interest.  In  all  this  vast  ter- 
ritory there  are  not  more  than  two  Baptist  ministers,  and 
one  of  these  is  in  too  infirm  health  to  preach,  or  at  most, 
only  occasionally.  To  say  it  is  destitute,  extensive,  impor- 
tant and  very  needy,  conveys  only  a  very  inadequate  idea 
of  the  real  state  of  things."  To  harmonize  this  statement 
with  the  number  of  ministers,  though  small,  in  this  Asso- 
ciation at  the  time,  it  will  only  be  necessary  to  mention 
that  most  of  these  were  located  east  of  the  supposed  line 
from  the  capitol  north  to  Minnesota.  The  secretary  in  com- 
pany with  Rev.  Dexter  P.  Smith,  then  of  Iowa  City,  and 
Rev.  T.  S.  Griffith  of  Keokuk,  had  only  a  few  weeks  before 
visited  a  large  part  of  this  northwest  quarter  of  the  State, 
so  that  the  description  quoted  above  was  founded  upon 
actual  observation.  Doubtless  there  are  those  still  living 
at  Algona  in  this  Association  who  will  remember  the  visit 
of  those  three  brethren  to  which  we  refer.  One  Sunday 
School  is  reported  this  year.  This  at  Webster  Cit}^,  with  9 
teachers  and  40  scholars. 


352  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Boonsboro  entertains  the  Association.     Rev.  Wm.  E. 

Reed  a  visiting  brother  preached  the  opening  sermon,  O. 

A.    Holmes   Moderator,    A.   W.    Russell  clerk. 

"I    Q  (^  /I 

Churches  12,  pastors  5,  baptized  26,  total  mem- 
bership 277.  Benevolent  collections  are  reported  by  nearly 
all  the  churches,  aggregating  $61.81.  Five  Sunday  Schools 
are  reported  with  37  teachers  and  325  scholars.  Rev.  Wm, 
Leggett  is  pastor  at  Algona  and  Fort  Dodge.  A  church 
has  been  organized  at  Nevada,  Rev.  A.  W.  Russell  pastor, 
with  8  members,  also  one  at  Lakins  Grove,  O.  A.  Holmes 
in  charge  where  12  have  been  baptized,  witli  14  members. 

The   fifth  anniversary  was  held  at  Fort  Dodge.     Rev. 

Wm.  Leggett  preached  the  introductory  sermon.     A.  W. 

Russell  Moderator,  Theo.   Hawley,   clerk.     The 

"I  o  cp:  "^ 

Lakins'  Grrove  and  Nevada  Churches,  added  last 
year  both  disappear,  Lakins'  Grove  to  be  known  no  more, 
Nevada  only  after  a  lapse  of  several  years  to  be  reorgan- 
ized. Rev.  P.  C.  Walberg  is  preaching  at  the  Swede  Bend 
Church.  This  is  a  Swede  church,  and  this  brother  a  native 
of  Sweden.  Mention  should  have  been  made  of  the  depart- 
ure of  Rev.  Ira  H.  Rees  ,  two  years  ago,  for  a  field  farther 
west.  The  experience  of  this  brother  is  a  sad  one  to  con- 
template. He  had  settled  on  the  land  on  which  the  south 
half  of  the  town  of  Ames  now  stands.  Undergoing  here 
hardships,  poverty  and  sickness,  almost  to  the  verge  of  de- 
spair, he  finally  sold  out  in  the  hardest  times  Just  before  the 
railroad  came  to  relieve  the  depression,  and  went  west  to 
try  the  realities  of  another  frontier  settlement. 

The  annual  meeting  took  place  at  Iowa  Falls,  O.  A. 

Holmes  preacher  and  Moderator,  S.  G.  Gibbs  clerk.  The 
Squaw  Creek  Church  disappears  from  the  records, 
to  reappear  after  an  interval  in  the  Ames  Church. 

Churches  9,  pastors  5,  baptisms  4,  added  from  all  sources 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  353 

87,  present  number  229.  The  present  writer  had  something 
of  an  adventure  in  reaching  this  meeting.  Rev.  O.  A. 
Holmes  was,  in  the  earlier  part  of  this  year,  about  the  only 
working  pastor  in  the  Association,  though  valuable  acces- 
sions came  later.  He  was  likely  to  be  almost  alone  at  the 
Association,  and  in  correspondence  we  had  promised  to  be 
in  attendance  without  fail.  Coming  in  from  the  east  on 
the  day  of  the  meeting,  we  reached  Parkersburg  in  the  fore- 
noon and  found  the  Beaver  River  swollen  to  its  banks  and 
the  wagon  bridge  out.  Meeting  parties  Just  before  reaching 
the  stream  we  were  told  there  was  no  way  of  crossing  but 
to  swim  the  horse.  To  turn  back  and  leave  Brother  Holmes 
probably  alone  with  the  Association  was  not  to  be  thought 
of.  The  stream  was  swift  and  the  landing  against  the 
current,  but  it  was  narrow  and  by  the  time  the  buggy  got 
afloat  the  horse  would  soon  find  footing  on  the  other  side. 
After  some  hesitation  we  decided  to  venture,  drove  safely 
through,  and  wrapped  with  blankets  drove  on  to  Iowa 
Falls,  20  miles,  without  change  of  clothes.  We  found  the 
Association  in  session  in  a  little  hall  in  the  town.  "The 
meeting  was  one  of  more  than  ordinary  interest."'  Rev.  I, 
A.  Cain  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Algona  Church  during 
the  session.  Owing  to  the  distance  it  was  almost  impossi- 
ble to  convene  a  council  with  the  church  at  Algona,  so 
they  sent  down  a  request  that  a  council  of  brethren  present 
at  the  Association  should  sit  with  their  delegates  for  the 
purpose.  This  Brother  Cain  is  the  same  who  has  for  a 
few  years  past  (1886)  been  connected  with  the  Indian 
University  in  the  Southwest  as  Financial  Agent.  Before 
the  close  of  1866  Rev.  A.  L.  Farr  was  settled  at  Iowa  Falls, 
and  Rev.  A.  E.  Simons  began  work  at  Boone,  then  called 
Montana.  A  more  hopeful  day  seemed  to  be  dawning  for 
the  Upper  Des  Moines  Association.  Brother  Holmes  in  a 
report  to  the  Convention  in  October  mentions  the  accession 


354  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

of  the  three  new  pastors,  and  adds,  "  Though  the  past  is 
not  all  we  could  desire,  the  future  is  full  of  hope." 

The  annual  meeting  had  been  appointed  at  Algona,  but 

from  the  records  at  hand  it  seems  to  have  been  changed 

and   held   at   Webster  City.      Brother   Holmes 
1  RRV 

preached  the  opening  sermon.     Kev.  A.  L.  Farr, 

Moderator  and  A.  E.  Simons,  clerk.  Two  new  churches 
organized  in  1860  are  received.  Homer,  J.  C.  H.  Miller, 
pastor  with, 14  members  and  Montana  (now  Boone),  A.  E. 
Simons,  pastor  with  13  members.  Scj^uaw  Creek  is  again 
put  in  the  list  with  19  members  but  no  statistics.  Churches 
12;  pastors  8;  baptisms  35;  added  from  all  sources  107; 
present  membership  358.  Rev.  G.  D.  Simmons  is  pastor  at 
Boonsboro,  S.  Funk  at  Great  Bend  and  C.  P.  Frodig  is 
the  way  the  name  of  the  Swede  Bend  pastor  appears  this 
time.  Fort  Dodge  appears  with  7  members  and  no  pastor. 
The  constituent  members  of  the  Montana  Church,  five, were 
"Allen  Parker  and  wife,  Samuel  M.  Ives  and  wife  and  Mrs. 
Mary  Smith.  Organized  December  30,  1866.  Houses  of 
worship  are  in  process  of  construction  at  Iowa  Falls,  Great 
Bend  and  Montana.  In  the  latter  they  "held  their  first 
prayer  meeting  in  the  lecture  room,  ^Vovember  23,  1867." 
As  the  town  grew  the  location  proved  to  be  unfavorable, 
and  the  site  was  afterwards  abandoned  for  a  place  of  wor- 
ship elsewhere.  With  other  evidences  of  vitality  we  begin 
to  note  the  increase  of  contributions  for  the  State  Conven- 
tion. In  1864,  $17.50;  1865,  $16.25;  1866,  it  was  855.30. 
All  or  nearly  all  contributed  at  the  meeting  at  Iowa  Falls, 
1867,  847.60.  This  year  $300  were  appropriated  to  the  sup- 
port of  Ira  A.  Cain,  missionary  at  Algona.  82,300  are  re- 
ported raised  for  a  meeting  house  at  Algona. 

The    Association    held   its   annual    meeting  with   the 
Baptist  church  in  Montana,  commencing  Friday,  October  4. 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  355 

Rev.  A.  L.  Farr  preached  the  sermon  and  was  elected 
Moderator,  and  A.  E.  Simons  clerk.  The  church  at  Fort 
Dodg-e  has  become  extinct,  and  the  name  is  drop- 
ped  from  the  records.  The  old  Squaw  Creek  Church 
has  been  reorganized  into  the  church  at  Ames  and  is  re- 
ceived with  23  members  ;  also  a  new  church  at  Yatesville 
with  11  members.  Five  meeting  houses  are  reported  in 
process  of  construction  this  year.  Sermons  were  preached 
at  this  meeting  by  Revs.  T.  H.  Judson,  E.  R.  Swain,  J.  C. 
H.  Miller,  E.  G.  O.  Groat,  I.  A.  Cain,  J.  F.  Childs,  and  A. 
L.  Farr;  the  last  two  on  the  Sabbath.  Brother  Cain  has 
continued  Missionary  pastor  at  Algona  and  "  has  secured 
the  erection  of  their  meeting  house  at  the  county  seat,  the 
only  one  in  the  county,  and  the  only  one  within  a  circle  of 
80  miles."'  He  has  traveled  abroad  among  personal  friends 
and  raised  in  this  way  '*^675.  Churches  12,  pastors  6,  bap- 
tized 41,  added  in  other  ways  41,  present  membership  395. 
Pastors  are  Cain,  Algona  ;  Farr,  Iowa  Falls ;  Miller,  Homer; 
Sparks,  Mt.  Pleasant  and  North  Union  ;  Simons  of 
Montana,  and  A.  Norelius  of  Swede  Bend.  The  removal 
should  have  been  noticed  in  1867  of  Rev.  O.  A.  Holmes 
from  Webster  City  to  Marshalltown  in  the  Iowa  Valley 
Association.  Brother  Holmes  had  been  in  this  Association 
nine  years  pastor  at  Webster  City,  and  a  part  of  the  time 
preaching  at  Iowa  Falls  on  the  one  side  and  at  Boonsboro 
on  the  other,  making  the  extremes  of  his  field  of  labor  70 
miles  apart.  Full  half  this  distance  was,  in  those  years, 
an  almost  unbroken  prairie.  The  largest  number  of  bap- 
tisms this  year  (1868)  were  at  Great  Bend,  15,  and  at  Mt. 
Pleasant,  (Mineral  Ridge)  15,  Algona  4,  Boonsboro  3,  Mon- 
tana 2,  and  Swede  Bend  2.  Boonsboro  and  Webster  City 
are  both  pastorless.  Contributions  for  the  Convention  have 
reached  $356.53.  The  Convention  has  taken  a  vigorous 
hold  upon  this  great  field,  appropriating  this  year  $320  to 


356 


HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 


1869. 


I.    A.    Cain    at   Algona,   and    $300    to   A.    E.    Simons    at 
Montana. 

The  tenth  annual  meeting  was  held  at  Mineral  Eidge. 
J.  C.  H.  Miller  preached  the  opening  sermon,  A.  L.  Farr 
Moderator,  A.  E.  Simons  clerk.  The  name  of  a 
church  at  West  Dayton  is  found  upon  the  list 
with  18  members,  but  neither  statistics  nor  pastor.  Rev. 
James  Jeffries  is  pastor  at  Algona,  and  H.  A.  Barden  at 
Ames,  S.  Funk  at  Webster  City  and  Yatesville.  Other 
pastors  unchanged.  Churches  13,  pastors  8,  baptisms  69, 
total  memebership  517.  The  first  time  in  the  history  of 
the  Association  that  the  membership  has  reached  500. 
Eight  of  the  14  churches  report  baptisms.  Iowa  Falls  has 
been  most  blessed,  baptizing  31 ;  North  Union  11  ;  Homer 
9.  A  good  degree  of  spiritual  activity  indeed.  At  Iowa 
Falls  some  of  the  leading  business  men  have  been  convert- 
ed. With  suitable  consecration  this  church  will  prove  a 
mighty  power  for  good.  Will  there  be  this  consecration  ? 
That  is  the  vital  question  in  many  similar  cases. 


^fe> 


(5)'t#4<e 


CHAPTER  XXXYII. 


Upper  Des  Moines  Association  Continued— Personal 

Recollections — Churches     Multiply  —  An' 

Undiminished  Field — 1870  to  1886. 

g^HE  present  writer  records  this  date  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  Upper  Des  Moines  Association 
with  many  recollections  of  deepest  interest. 
With  it  not  only  does  his  own  life  enter  into 
the  life  of  the  Association,  and  the  Associa- 
tion enter  into  his  life  for  a  number  of  years, 
but  it  is  an  epoch  in  his  ministerial  career.  A  new  and  un- 
tried era.  Retiring  from  seven  years'  General  Missionary 
work,  with  further  work  of  the  same  nature  urged  upon 
him  by  the  Board  which  has  so  long  sustained  him,  he  has 
determined  to  try  the  very  different  duties  of  the  pastorate, 
and  begins  this  new  work,  January  1,  1870,  with  the  Little 
Church  at  Ames,  with  30  members  and  no  place  to  worship. 
When  announcing  to  the  secretary  of  the  Convention  his 
decision,  involving  the  declination  of  an  appointment  as 
"Railroad  Missionary,"  which  had  been  tendered  him,  the 
secretary  said,  "All  well  enough,  an  important  field,  but 
how  are  you  going  to  live?"  Sixteen  years  since  of  pas- 
toral labor,  most  of  the  time  with  what  might  almost  be 


358  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

called  "forlorn  hopes,''  has  emphasized,  in  one  mind  at 
least,  the  question  that  is  constantly  confronting  earnest 
men  as  they  enter  these  new  and  needy  fields.  "How  are 
you  going  to  live?" 

The  annual  meeting  in  1870  was  held  at  Iowa  Falls. 
The  writer  was  the  only  pastor  present  at  that  meeting, 
representing  a  church  in  the  Association.  Rev.  F.  S. 
Witter  was  present  on  the  ground  and  was  afterwards  or- 
dained pastor  at  Iowa  Falls  and  remained  one  year.  Rev. 
J.  Edminister,  Superintendent  of  Missions,  was  present, 
preached  the  opening  sermon  and  acted  as  Moderator.  S. 
H.  Mitchell,  clerk.  Rose  Grove  Church  was  received,  R. 
Fay,  pastor;  11  members.  C.  G.  Johnson  is  pastor  at 
Swede  Bend.  The  appearance  of  revival,  of  last  year,  had 
ceased.  Churches,  14;  pastors,  5;  baptisms,  7;  present 
membership,  570,  Contributed  for  the  Convention  $117.85; 
last  year,  $176.03. 

The  Association  met  at  Algona.  S.  H.  Mitchell  preached 
the  opening  sermon  and  was  Moderator,  F.  S.  Witter  clerk. 
Great  Bend,  Rose  Grove,  and  West  Dayton 
Churches  disappear  from  the  list,  and  Montana 
is  changed  to  Boone.  Rev.  H.  D.  Weaver  has  become  pas- 
tor at  Webster  City.  Other  pastors  are  J.  Jeffries  at  Algo- 
na, Mitchell  at  Ames:  J.  Moxom  at  Boone,  F.  S.  Witter  at 
Iowa  Falls,  and  J.  D.  Cassaday  at  Mt.  Pleasant.  Eight  of 
the  eleven  churches  report  baptisms.  Iowa  Falls  30,  Swede 
Bend  12,  Mt.  Pleasant  5,  Ames  4,  Algona  3,  and  Boone, 
Homer  and  Webster  City  one  each.  This  meeting  at  Al- 
gona was  one  of  great  interest.  The  great  fires  at  Chicago 
and  in  Michigan  had  just  taken  place.  Many  of  the 
prairies  in  our  own  State  were  one  black  expanse,  where 
the  fire  had  swept  over  for  miles,  but  no  great  damage  had 
we  suftered.     As  we  write,  a  picture  hangs  opposite  on  the 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  359 

study  wall  that  is  a  pleasant  reminder.  Revs.  E.  K.  Cres- 
sey,  T.  H.  Judson  and  M.  C.  Kempsey,  were  at  the  Associa- 
tion as  visitors.  They,  with  pastors  Weaver,  Witter  and 
Mitchell  made  up  the  ministerial  force  of  six,  besides  Pas- 
tor Jeffries  of  Algona,  who  had  taken  part  in  the  Associa- 
tional  gathering.  All  the  six  went  from  Algona  direct  to 
Waterloo  to  attend  the  State  Convention.  Arriving  at 
Waterloo,  a  letter  awaited  us  from  Brother  Jeffries,  who 
could  not  attend,  begging  us  to  visit  a  photograph  gallery 
and  get  a  picture  of  the  six  and  send  to  him  as  a  souvenir 
of  the  meeting,  which  he  had  enjoyed  so  much.  It  was 
done,  and  a  copy,  preserved  by  at  least  one  of  the  group, 
has   been  the  occasion  many  times  of  pleasant  memories. 

Met  at  Webster  City.     J.  Z.  Zimmerman  preached  the 

opening  sermon.    S.  H.  Mitchell,  Moderator,  H.  D.  Weaver, 

tlerk.     The  names  of  the  three  churches  dropped 
1  R  V  9 

last  year  are  restored  and  three  new  churches, 

all  organized  within  the  year,  are  received.  Tliese  are 
Eagle  Grove,  with  15  members,  Humboldt,  with  11  and 
Oakland,  with  9.  Rev.  A.  Plumley  is  pastor  of  the  first 
two  and  B.  W.  Stillson  of  Oakland.  Rev.  H.  D.  Weaver 
has  removed  from  Webster  City  to  Fort  Dodge,  which  is 
restored  to  the  list  of  churches  with  18  members.  F.  S. 
Witter  has  left  the  Association  and  Rev.  L.  W.  Hayhurst 
is  preaching  weighty  sermons  at  Iowa  Falls.  Brother 
Hayhurst,  as  a  profound,  logical  preacher,  has  had  few 
equals  in  the  Iowa  pulpit.  Rev.  J.  Z.  Zimmerman  is 
preaching  at  Great  Bend  and  A.  W.  Russell  at  Yatesville. 
These,  with  J.  C.  H.  Miller  at  Homer,  J.  D.  Cassady  at 
Mount  Pleasant,  constitute  a  ministerial  force  in  advance 
of  any  former  year.  Churches,  17;  pastors,  10;  baptisms, 
27;  members,  641.  A  gain  over  last  year  of  118.  Ames  is 
building  a  meeting  house  and  reports  this  year  a  total  ex- 
penditure of  $1,540.30.     The  total  expenditure  of  the  entire 


360  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Association  being  83,041.57.  Contribution  for  the  Conven- 
tion are  S91.35,  of  which  Ames  and  her  members  are 
credited  with  S42.00. 

This  year  the  Association  met  at  Ames,  in  the  new  and 
commodious  house  of  worship  which  was  dedicated  on  the 
Sabbath  of  the  Associational  meeting,  Rev.  J. 
F.  Childs  of  Oskaloosa  preaching  the  sermon. 
Contrary  to  the  almost  universal  custom  in  those  days  at 
dedications,  no  collection  was  taken  for  the  building 
fund,  but  a  collection  of  $94.20  was  taken,  for  the  Conven- 
tion and  credited  to  the  Association.  Rev.  H.  D.  Weaver 
preached  the  introductory  sermon  at  the  Association.  Rev. 
D.  N.  Mason  of  Boonsboro  was  chosen  Moderator  and  H. 
D.  Weaver  clerk.  The  pulpits  are  supplied  as  last  year 
except  J.  Z.  Zimmerman  does  not  appear  and  D.  N.  Mason 
is  added.  Brother  Weaver  at  Ft.  Dodge  baptized  10  and 
Miller  at  Homer  10.  Total  expenditures  of  the  year  are 
$6061.30,  of  which  the  largest  sum  is  at  Ames,  $2965.  Total 
for  the  Convention  $171.81.  Three  Missionaries  of  the  Con- 
vention are  within  the  Association.  Mitchell  at  Ames, 
Weaver  at  Ft.  Dodge,  and  Plumley  at  Eagle  Grove  and 
Humboldt.  An  interesting  Sunday  School  Institute  was 
held  in  connection  with  the  Association. 

The   Association  met  at  Fort  Dodge.     S.   H.  Mitchell 
preached  the  sermon  and  was  elected  Moderator,  and  H.  L. 

Bower,  clerk.  Rev.  H.  D.  Weaver  has  removed 
1  RVZL 

from  the  Association  and  is  pastor  at  New  Hart- 
ford in  the  Cedar  Valley.  Rev.  H.  L.  Bower  succeeds  him 
at  Fort  Dodge.  Rev.  D.  N.  Mason  has  also  resigned  at 
Boonsboro,  and  become  pastor  at  Marshalltown  in  the  Iowa 
Valley.  Rev.  A.  V.  Bloodgood  is  pastor  at  Webster  City, 
and  they  have  built  a  neat  chapel,  costing,  with  other  ex- 
penditures of  the  year,  $1307.50,   and   hav»  added  26  to 


KEY.  S.  H.  MITCHELL. 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  361 

their  niiiiiber,  12  by  baptism.  Rev.  L.  L.  Frislv  has  now 
returned  to  the  Association  and  is  pastor  at  Mt.  Pleasant 
and  Su  ede  Bend.  At  Fort  Dodge  16  have  been  baptized, 
and  at  Homer  10,  at  Ames  6,  Humboldt  7,  and  8  altogether 
in  five  other  churches.  The  Jefferson  Church  was  received 
from  the  Western  Iowa  Association  with  60  members.  Rev. 
D.  Heagle,  pastor.  Brother  Heagle,  who  labored  in  Iowa 
with  success  for  a  number  of  years,  is  the  translator  from  the 
German,  of  "  The  Breman  Lectures,"  an  interesting  volume. 

The  Association  met  in  1875  at  Boonsboro.       Rev.  A. 
Plumley  preached  the  sermon  and  was  chosen  Moderator 
^  and   Rev.   D.   Heagle,   clerk.      The   Rose   Grove 

Church  having  become  extinct  the  name  was 
dropped  from  the  roll  and  the  Swede  Bend  Church  was 
permitted  to  withdraw  to  unite  with  the  Scandinavian 
Association,  of  Rock  Island.  The  Nevada,  Hesperian  and 
Meadow  Brook  Churches  were  received,  with  14,  14  and  28 
members  respectively,  or  an  aggregate  of  56.  S.  H. 
Mitchell  having  resigned  at  Ames,  on  the  1st  of  January 
last,  to  become  Financial  Agent  of  the  University  of  Des 
Moines,  Rev.  D.  D.  Proper  has  entered  upon  the  pastorate 
there.  Rev.  J.  S.  Saxby  is  preaching  at  Algona,  Rev.  G. 
W.  Freeman  at  Fort  Dodge,  A.  Plumley  at  Eagle  Grove 
and  Humboldt,  D.  Heagle  at  Jefferson  and  Meadow  Brook, 
Demas  Robinson  at  Nevada,  A.  V.  Bloodgood  at  Webster 
City  and  J.  D.  Cassaday  at  West  Dayton.  Churches,  18; 
pastors,  8;  received  by  baptism,  112;  present  membership 
876.  Jefferson  has  received  41  by  baptism;  Meadow  Brook 
14;  Webster  City  33;  Fort  Dodge  17;  Ames  6,  and  Hum- 
boldt one.  Jefferson  has  133  members.  The  only  church 
in  the  Association  numbering  above  100.  This  is  also  the 
first  year  in  the  history  of  the  Association  that  the  bap- 
tisms have  been  more  than  a  hundred.  Rev.  H.  L.  Bower 
resigned  at  Fort  Dodge  in  September  last,  and  Rev.  J.  C. 


362  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

H.  Miller  at  Homer  in  May.  Brother  Miller  has  been  pas- 
cor  of  the  Homer  Church  since  its  organization,  in  1867. 
Contributions  for  the  Convention  this  year,  $121.97. 

This  annual  meeting  was  at  Jefferson.     Annual  sermon 

by  Demas   Robinson,  G.  W.  Freeman   Moderator,  D.  D. 

Proper   clerk.     Rev.  J.  H.   Delano   has   become 
1  RYR 

pastor  at  Boone  and  Boonsboro.  and  Rev.  L.  N. 

Call  at  Webster  City,  succeeding  Rev.  A.  V.  Bloodgood 
who  is  found  this  year  at  Washington.  A.  Shimel  is 
preaching  at  Meadow  Brook.  Algona  do  not  report,  but 
mourn  the  loss  by  death  of  their  pastor,  Rev.  J.  S.  Saxby. 
Ames  and  Jefferson  have  been  greatly  prospered,  Ames 
reporting  33  baptized  and  Jefferson  37.  The  value  of 
church  property  is  $19,500,  six  churches  reporting  values, 
viz.:  Ames  $4,000,  Boone  $1,500,  Iowa  Falls  $5,000,  Jeffer- 
son $3,000,  Mount  Pleasant  $3,000,  and  Webster  City 
$3,000.  Fort  Dodge  have  nearly  completed  a  neat  and 
substantial  home  in  a  central  location,  and  Boone  have 
sold  their  out  of  the  way  chapel  and  secured  a  more  central 
location  and  fitted  up  a  comfortable  home. 

The  anniversary  was  at  Fort  Dodge.     Introductory  ser- 
mon by  Rev.  L.  N.  Call,  Rev.  J.  H.  Delano  Moderator,  and 

L.  N.  Call  clerk.  Rev.  D.  D.  Proper  has  removed 
1  RW 

from   Ames   to  Iowa  Falls  and  is  succeeded  at 

Ames  by  Rev.  R.  J.  Reynolds.  Rev.  J.  H.  Delano  has  re- 
moved from  Boone  to  Jefferson.  D.  Heagle  resigned  but  is 
still  preaching  at  Meadow  Brook.  Rev.  W.  F,  Carson  is 
preaching  at  Great  Bend  and  Mount  Pleasant,  and  J.  C. 
H.  Miller  has  resumed  labor  at  Homer.  Boone  reports  8 
baptized,  Boonsboro  22,  Webster  City  26,  Great  Bend  7, 
Homer  4  and  Iowa  Falls  5.  Churches  20,  pastors  9  bap- 
tisms 76,  total  membership  1015,  for  the  first  time  above 
1000.      Contributions   for   the   Convention    $140.16.      The 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  363 

Lake  City  Church  was  received  this  year  with  25  members, 
and  the  Rutland  Church  appears  a  year  ago  with  14.  This 
church  was  organized  in  1875.  Gowrie  applied  for  admis- 
sion, but  not  having  been  regularly  recognized  was  advised 
to  wait  and  proceed  in  regular  order.  In  1878  the  meeting 
was  at  Iowa  Falls.  Rev.  J.  H.  Delano  preached  the  opening 
sermon  and  was  elected  Moderator,  and  W.  E.  Bates  clerk. 
Rev.  W.  E.  Bates  has  become  pastor  at  Fort  Dodge.  C. 
Brooks  at  Algona.  Grand  Junction  and  Gowrie  were  re- 
ceived, E.  G.  ().  Groat  pastor,  with  18  and  20  members 
respectively.  Rev.  D.  Robinson  is  preaching  at  Lake  City. 
The  North  Union  Church  whicli  had  gone  into  the  Coon 
Valley  Association,  organized  in  1871,  this  year  returned 
to  its  former  connection  with  this  body. 

Tile  Association    met   at  Webster  City.     Rev.  E.  G.  O. 
Groat  preached  the  introductory   sermon  and  was  elected 

Moderator.     J.    H.    Delano,    clerk.     Rev.    R.    J. 

1879 

Reynolds  closed  his  labors  at  Ames  and  went  to 

Nebraska  for  a  short  time,  then  returned  to  Ames  and  died, 
much  lamented  by  all  who  knew  him.  The  People's 
Church  in  the  southwest  part  of  Boone  count}^,  and  the 
Grant  City  Church  in  Calhoun  county  were  received.  The 
first  of  these  is  a  new  organization.  The  Grant  City  Church 
was  organized  about  1870  and  formerly,  belonged  to  the 
Western  Association.  It  now  reports  24  members,  11  of 
whom  have  been  baptized  during  the  year.  Ere  the  close 
of  this  year  Rev.  Amos  Robinson  has  become  pastor  at 
Ames,  H.  N.  Miilard  at  Boone  and  Boonsboro,  and  Rev. 
D.  D.  Proper  lias  resigned  at  Iowa  Falls,  to  enter  the  State 
Sunday  School  work,  and  is  succeeded  by  Rev.  G.  J.  Tra- 
vis. Rev.  Demas  Robinson  is  preaching  at  Lake  City  and 
Grant  City,  J.  F.  Childs  is  supplying  at  Nevada  and  A. 
Hunt  is  preaching  to  the  People's  Church. 


364  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Met  at  Boone.  Rev.  L.  N.  Call  preached  the  openini^ 
sermon,  L.  N.  Call  Moderator,  J.  H.  Delano  clerk.  The 
Great  Bend  and  Meadow  Brook  Churches  were 
dropped  from  the  roll,  not  having  reported  for 
three  successive  years.  Boonsboro,  Eagle  Grove  and 
Yatesville  Churches  having  been  absorbed  by  contiguous 
Baptist  Church  organizations,  their  names  were  also 
dropped  from  the  roll  of  churches.  Five  new  churches 
were  received  into  the  body  and  the  hand  of  fellowship 
extended  to  their  delegates  by  the  Moderator.  They  were, 
Manson,  R.  Persons  pastor,  13  members;  Hesperion,  11 
members  ;  Livermore,  C.  Brooks,  number  not  given  ;  Union, 
38,  and  Rockwell  City  34.  Indications  of  a  healthy,  vigo- 
rous activity  are  observed  in  the  cutting  off  of  dead  or 
barren  branches,  iji  the  large  delegation  present  at  the 
annual  meeting,  and  in  the  large  number  of  baptisms 
reported.  Ten  churches  report  77  baptized.  Churches  22, 
pastors  12,  total  membership  1199.  At  the  close  of  this 
year  Rev.  J.  Mountain  is  pastor  at  Algona,  H.  D.  Weaver 
has  succeeded  Amos  Robinson  at  Ames,  H.  N.  Millard  is 
still  at  Boone,  E.  G.  O"  Groat  at  Gowrie  and  Homer,  J.  F. 
Childs  of  Des  Moines  is  preaching  at  Grand  Junction  and 
Nevada,  G.  J.  Travis  at  Iowa  Falls,  J.  H.  Delano  at  Jeffer- 
son, C.  Brooks  at  Livermore,  A.  Hunt  at  People'^,  L.  N. 
Call  still  at  Webster  City,  and  Rev,  James  Patrick  at  North 
Union  and  Mount  Pleasant.  Pastor  Bates  has  resigned  at 
Fort  Dodge  and  they  are  without  preaching.  Missionary 
aid  has  been  granted  by  the  Convention  at  Boone,  at  Grand 
Junction,  at  Lake  City  and  at  Rockwell  City,  and  '^148.53 
have  been  raised  within  the  Association  for  the  Convention. 

The   Association    met   at    Jefferson.      Rev.    C.    Brooks 

preached  the  anniversary  sermon,  H.  N.  Millard  Moderator, 

L.  N.  Call  clerk.     Rev.  J.   M.   Bay  is  preaching 

at   Gowrie,  Hesperian   and   North  Union.     Rev. 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  365 

A.  Plumley  is  again  in  the  harness  at  Humboldt  and 
Livermore,  and  Brethren  Brooks  and  Groat  do  not  appear 
this  year  in  the  list.  Nevada  and  Grand  Junction  have 
built  neat  and  convenient  houses  of  worship.  The  total  of 
local  church  expenses  for  the  Association  is  $12,844.23. 
Denominational  benevolence  1537.68.  Raised  for  the  Con- 
vention $236.57,  and  received  aid  for  four  of  its  pastors. 
The  advance  in  money  raised  for  the  material  interests  of 
the  churches  is  very  marked.  The  Association  in  1882  was 
at  Livermore.  Rev.  R.  Persons  preached  the  sermon,  L. 
N.  Call  Moderator,  N.  E.  Goldthwaite  clerk.  The  Homer 
Church  which  had  dropped  out  of  the  list  last  year  is 
restored  as  a  reorganization.  Also  new  churches  at  Pilot 
Mound,  Goldfield  and  Luverne,  with  11,  7  and  9  members 
respectively.  The  new  Homer  Church  has  5.3  members,  of 
whom  22  have  been  baptized  during  the  year.  Rev.  J.  M. 
Bay  pastor.  The  Kendrick  Church  also  appears  for  the 
first  time  upon  tlie  list,  with  26  members.  Rev.E.  E.  Atkin- 
son is  preaching  at  Fort  Dodge.  Rev.  F.  Hill  succeeds 
Brother  Childs  at  Grand  Junction  and  Nevada,  and  Rev. 

B.  H.  Brasted  is  serving  Grant  City,  Lake  City,  Rockwell 
City  and  Union— three  cities  and  a  bond  of  "Union "to  bind 
them  together.  Rev.  J.  H.  Delano  has  resigned  at  Jefferson 
and  gone  to  Illinois  and  Rev.  F.  N.  Eldridge  succeeds  him. 
There  are  now  27  churches,  21  of  them  supplied  by  13  pas- 
tors; 167  baptisms  reported  and  a  total  membership  of 
1373,  the  largest  number  ever  baptized  in  the  Association 
in  one  year,  and  a  gain  of  nearly  200  over  last  year.  Raised 
for  the  Convention  $146.23.  Aid  extended  on  five  dift'erent 
fields. 

Met  at  Ames.     Rev.  A.  Plumley  preached  the  sermon, 

L.  N.  Call  Moderator,  N.  E.  Goldthwaite  clerk.     The  names 

disappear  of  Hesperian,  Humboldt,  People's  and 

Union — 4.     The  People'^  Church  appears  in  the 


366  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Coon  Valley  Association.  Some  others  may  be  changed 
to  new  names  appearing-.  jN^ames  of  five  new  churches  ap- 
pear, viz.:  Bradgate,  Burnside,  Kelly,  Lohrville  and  Ren- 
wick.  Churches  28,  of  which  21  are  supplied  by  12  pastors. 
Baptisms  78,  present  membersliip  1326.  Rev.  E.  G.  O. 
Groat  whose  name  has  been  missed  among  the  pastors  for 
the  last  two  or  three  years,  appears  again  preaching  at 
Rutland.  R.  Persons  is  preaching  for  the  new  church  at 
Bradgate,  and  J.  M.  Bay  at  Burnside.  Kelly  is  an  offshoot 
of  the  Ames  Church.  In  1884  the  25th  annual  meeting  was 
held  with  the  Baptist  Church  at  Algona,  commencing  Fri- 
day, September  11.  Rev.  E.  G.  O.  Groat  preached  the  in- 
troductory sermon  from  1st  John  IV:7.  Theme,  "Christian 
Love."  Moderator  L.  jN".  Call,  clerk  N.  E.  Goldthwaite. 
Several  new  pastors  appear  upon  the  field.  G.  W.  Robin- 
son, Algona,  G.  H.  Starring,  Ames,  I.  W.  Edson,  Boone,  D. 
L.  Clouse,  Grand  Junction,  F.  G.  Jones,  Iowa  Falls,  J.  C. 
Hart,  Jeflferson,  J.  Bodenham,  Livermore,  O.  W.  Catlin, 
Lohrville  and  Rockwell  City,  and  George  Houghton  at  Ne- 
vada. Nine  new  men  to  this  field.  Of  course  the  most  of 
them  take  the  places  of  familiar  names  no  longer  seen  in 
this  connection,  but  which  have  become  new  names  in 
other  fields.  But,  alas,  these  transitions  have  become  so 
frequent  that  names  of  excellent  ministers  have  scarcely 
become  familiar  before  the}^  have  taken  their  flight.  But 
three  ministers  in  this  Association  have  been  on  their  pres- 
ent fields  more  than  two  years.  The  Humboldt  Church 
reappears;  a  new  organization  with  Rev.  E.  G.  O.  Groat 
pastor  ;  also  Dayton  and  Centerville  Churches  with  J.  M. 
Bay  and  James  Patrick  as  pastors.  Humboldt  has  dedi- 
cated a  neat  chapel  in  the  county  seat,  Renwick  and  Lohr- 
ville have  also  dedicated  new  houses.  "All  indicating 
substantial  progress,  determined  position  and  consecrated 
effort,"     There  are  now  in  the  Association  31  churches,  16 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  367 

pastors,  85  baptisms  reported  and  a  total  membership  of 
1498.  Jefferson  reports  23  baptized,  Centerville  18,  Web- 
ster City  17,  North  Union  14,  and  Boone  8.  These  are  the 
principal  baptisms.  The  value  of  church  property  is  now 
placed  at  $35,200.  Sixteen  churches  reporting  property 
ranging  in  value  from  $200  to  $6,000.  Only  two  of  the  16 
reporting  less  than  $1,500  in  value.  Total  expenditures  for 
all  purposes  $13,698.01,  of  which  $4902.89  were  for  church 
expenses,  $480.61  for  Sunday  Schools,  $7,639.50  for  'Ter- 
manent  Improvement",  and  for  Convention  $216.33. 

The  Association  met  with  the  North  Union  Church, 
commencing  Thursday,  September  10,  at  7  p.  m.  The  in- 
troductory sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  D.  L. 
Clouse.  Rev.  E.  G.  O.  Groat  was  Moderator  and 
Rev.  O.  W.  Catlin,  clerk.  The  Radcliffe  Church  was 
received  with  17  members.  Rev.  H.  M.  Thompson  has  suc- 
ceeded Pastor  Jones  at  Iowa  Falls;  F.  N.  Hazen  is  pastor 
at  Dayton,  F.  M.  Jasensky  at  Pilot  Mound  and  W.  F. 
Porter  at  North  Union.  The  Grant  City  Church  has 
returned  to  the  Western  Iowa  Association.  Churches,  27; 
pastors,  15;  baptisms,  100;  total  membership,  1,512.  The 
reports  for  1886  are  such  as  give  evidence  of  an  upward 
movement.  The  baptisms  reported,  157,  have  been  ex- 
ceeded but  one  year  in  the  history  of  the  Association.  In 
1882  the  number  was  167.  In  only  one  other  year  were 
they  over  100.  In  1875,  112.  The  total  membership  in 
1886,  1,621  is  the  largest  in  the  history  of  the  organization. 

We  close  this  history  of  the  Upper  Des  Moines  Associ- 
ation with  one  or  two  incidents  that  are  worth  remember- 
ing for  the  illustrations  they  afford  of  some  of  the  methods 
of  Divine  Grace.  At  one  of  the  anniversaries  one  of  the 
(ought  to  have  been)  strongest  churches  did  not  report; 
had  not  reported  for  a  year  or  two.  There  had  been  trouble, 


368  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

brethren  bad  become  discouraged,  disobedient,  shall  we 
say  it, — sullen  in  their  despair,  and  seemingly  resolved  to 
let  the  cause  go  to  ruin.  At  this  meeting  the  case  of  that 
church  lay  heavily  on  the  hearts  ol  the  brethren.  Prayer 
was  proposed  especially  for  that  field.  It  was  not  known 
that  they  even  desired  this  interposition  in  their  behalf, 
but  we  have  seldom  heard  such  pleading  at  the  Throne  of 
Grace.  It  was  prolonged  and  repeated.  It  seemed  to  be- 
come the  absorbing  topic  of  the  meeting,  to  save  that 
church,  yet  the  only  thing,  then  available,  was  to  pray. 
To  those  who  believe  in  prayer  we  need  scarcely  add  the  se- 
quel. In  a  shore  time  that  church  took  up  its  work  again, 
and  has  been  since  one  of  the  active  forces  in  its  city  and 
in  the  Association.  At  another  anniversary  the  whole  As- 
sociation seemed  to  be  desolate.  But  one  pastor  in  the 
Association  present;  only  7  baptisms  for  the  year.  A  res- 
olution was  spread  upon  the  minutes  taking  the  hopeful 
view.  Our  extremity  God's  opportunity.  Next  year  there 
were  57  baptized,  30  of  them  in  this  church  where  the  As- 
sociation had  been  held  the  year  before,  and  general  pros- 
perity was  enjoyed. 


S  2,. 


CH^APTER  XXXVIII 


Picking  Up  the   Thread— 1865— Bedford  Association. 

Change   of  Name — East  Grand   River  and 

Murray  Associations — 1865  to  1886. 

OR  what  seemed  sufficient  reasons,  the  history 
of  the  Bedford  Association  was  broken  off  at 
1864,  the  last  year  that  it  appeared  in  the 
records  under  that  name,  and  the  South- 
Avestern  Association  taken  up,  reserving  its 
continuation,  under  a  new  name,  for  a  separate  sketch. 
The  old  Association  adjourned  in  1864  to  meet  with  the 
Grand  River  Church,  in  Decatur  county,  on  Friday  before 
the  fourth  Sunday  in  August,  1865.  From  that  meeting, 
evidently,  it  came  forth  the  I^ast  Grand  Rixer  Association, 
with  16  churches,  10  pastors,  49  baptisms,  102  additions  in 
all  and  600  members.  The  churches  were,  Afton,  Adams 
county  1st  Church,  Bethel,  Bethesda,  Caledonia,  Camden, 
Grand  River,  Hayden  Grove,  New  Hope,  New  Salem,  Osce- 
ola, Platteville,  Union,  Vernal,  West  Nodaway  Valley 
and  White  Breast.  The  pastors  were:  A.  R'obbins,  E.  Otis, 
S.  Hollen,  H.  Pearce,  P.  Andrews,  F.  Edwards,  J.  Evans,  G. 
Elmore,  J.  T.  Mercer  and  J.  A.  Pool.  Rev.  A.  Robbins  was 
the  clerk.     For  the  next  five  years  the  annual  meetings 


370  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

were  held  at  New  Salem,  Union  (1868-9  unknown)  and 
Platteville.  The  clerks  of  whom  we  have  any  record,  were 
A.  Robbins  and  J.  T.  Mercer. 

In  1866  the  Isadora  and  Mount  Zion  Churches  were 
received.  A.  Stanley  was  pastor  at  Bethel  and  J.  C.  Adams 
at  Hayden  Grove  and  Isadora.  Brother  Robbins 
was  preachinof  at  Afton  and  Bethesda.  In  1867 
Rev.  P.  Andrews  labored  as  itinerating  missionary  and 
§238.50  were  contributed  to  the  treasury  of  the  Convention, 
his  salary  being  $250.00.  In  1868  Rev.  J.  Messenger 
appears  as  pastor  at  Osceola  and  Vernal,  and  in  1869  H.  R. 
Hicks  at  Afton,  Thomas  Miller  at  Bethesda  and  J.  Hopkins 
at  Haydeu  Grove.  Brother  Robbins  closed  a  three  or  four 
years'  pastorate  at  Afton  and  removed  to  Osceola.  M. 
Case  was  reported  pastor  of  New  Hope  and  J.  S.  Deavers 
at  Union  City.  Seventy-seven  baptisms  were  reported  and 
857  members.  A  new  cliurcli  appears  at  Murray  and 
Brother  Robbins  is  supplying.  The  year  1870  seems  to 
have  been  a  year  of  considerable  growth.  Four  or  five  new 
churclies  were  added,  among  them  Mount  Ayr.  Rev.  C. 
Tilbury  was  preaching  at  Mount  Ayr  and  D.  T.  Smith  at 
New  Hope.      Baptisms,  164;  members,  1,109. 

Beginning  with  1871  we  find  anniversaries  held  at  Afton, 
Vernal,  Hayden  Grove,  Bethel  and  Mt.  Ayr,  with  Daniel 
Propst,  A.  Robbins,  and  R.  E.  Dye  acting  as 
clerks.  New  pastors  appearing  on  the  field  are, 
in  1871  A.  J.  Delano  preaching  at  Afton,  and  A.  Vander- 
pool  at  Camden  ;  in  1872  J.  B.  Linskea  at  Afton  and  E.  H. 
Riggs  at  Terre^  Haute  Church  :  in  1883  W.  C.  Akers  at 
Bethel,  S.  C.  Moore  at  Afton  and  J.  G.  Johnson  at  a  new 
church  called  the  Adair  County  First  Church.  Also  in 
1873  Rev.  D.  C.  Ellis  appears  as  pastor  Oi  the  First  Church 
Adams  county.     Brother  A.  Robbins  closed  his  connection 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  371 

with  the  Association  about  this  time,  and  Rev.  J.  C.  Lewis 
became  pastor  at  Leon  in  1874.  In  1875  Rev.  L.  M.  Newell 
appeared  as  pastor  for  a  little  season  at  Creston,  J,  M. 
Smith,  the  veteran  Missionary  of  southwestern  Iowa,  at 
Osceola,  and  Solomon  Punk  at  Mount  Ayr.  The  Vernal 
Church  reported  53  baptisms,  and  the  New  Salem  Church 
Eli  Stark,  pastor,  59.  Whole  number  of  baptisms  160; 
members  959.  From  1876  to  1880  we  find  the  annual  gath- 
erings were  at  Bethesda,  Murray,  Palestine,  Camden,  and 
Providence  Churches.  The  records  were  kept  by  Lemon 
Bennett  of  Murray  for  the  whole  period. 

The  East  Nodaway  Association,  organized  in  1874,  has 
reduced  the  membership  of  this.     The  number  of  churches 

in  1876  was  19,  pastors   9,  baptisms  69,    members 

1876 

871.     Rev.  J.  M.  Smith  was  preaching  at  Afton, 

Osceola,  Science  Hill  and  Vernal,  E.  Burch  at  Greenfield, 
J.  Drake  at  Hickory  Grove,  and  J.  Messenger  at  Murray. 
In  1877  Rev.  A.  Pratt  was  found  preaching  at  Osceola  and 
Murray,  and  Rev.  A.  C.  Edwards  at  Mt.  Ayr,  where  12 
have  been  baptized,  and  the  membership  increased  to  60. 
There  appeared  a  church  at  Westerville  about  this  time 
with  20  members,  probably  an  offshoot  from  the  Vernal 
Church.  Rev.  W.  H.  Barnes  appears  as  pastor  at  Green- 
field, H.  Crawford  at  Camden  and  Pleasant  Valley,  and  J. 
Rawlings  at  Union,  Afton  Postoffice.  Rev.  J.  I).  Burr  ap- 
pears as  pastor  at  Afton  and  Creston  in  1878,  and  A.  C. 
Edwards  at  Bethesda  and  Greenfield,  while  1879  shows 
Rev.  B.  F.  Mace  at  Osceola,  H.  S.  Cloud  at  Murray  and 
P.  Andrews  at  Mt.  Ayr. 

In   1880   Rev.  Wm.  Carpenter   puts   in   appearance   as 
pastor  at  Afton  and  Greenfield,  and  Rev.' P.  Edwards  be- 
gins  an   important  work   at  Leon.     Rev.   I.   M. 
Seay  is   found   again   in  his  old  field  at  Vernal 


872  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Church,  and  Hiram  Pearce  at  Betliesda.  In  the  five  county 
seats  in  this  Association,  Afton,  Greenfield,  Mt.  Ayr,  Osce- 
ola and  Leon,  the  aggregate  membership  in  1880  was  only 
159.  Great  courage  and  devotion  are  required  of  the  few 
who,  in  these  places,  preserve  the  candle  sticks  from  being 
removed  ou.t  of  their  places,  but  it  is  true  that  "To  him 
that  hath  shall  be  given,  and  he  (they)  shall  liave  more 
abLiiidance/'  The  anniversaries  from  1881  to  1886  were 
held  at  A'ernal,  Pleasant  yalle}^  Palestine,  Camden,  Cale- 
donia and  Camden  again.  R.  E.  Dye  one  year,  and  J.  W. 
Piercywere  the  clerks.  The  Murray  Association,  organ- 
ized about  the  beginning  of  this  period,  has  taken  from 
this  body  nearly  half  its  strength.  The  four  county  seats 
of  Adair,  Ringold,  Union  and  Clark  counties  all  went  into 
the  new  organization,  and  probably  most  of  the  cliurches 
in  three  of  these  counties,  while  Leon,  Decatur  county,  is 
transferred  to  the  Eden  Association.  There  appears  a  2d 
Mount  Ayr  Church  still  in  this  bod3^  with  lo  members, 
J.  R.  Drake  pastor.  There  are  now,  in  1881,  H  churches, 
4  pastors,  only  3  baptisms  reported  and  437  members.  The 
four  pastors  are  A.  W.  Cox,  J.  R.  Drake,  A,  Stanley,  and 
A.  Vanderpool. 

In  1882  W.  C.  Akers,  W.  H.  Eaton,  H.  Tabor  and  H. 

Crawford  appear  as  pastors.     For  the  period  under  review, 

1881   to    1885,  the   baptisms   were   in    the   order 

1  op  o  '  ^ 

named:  3,  19,  5,  14  and  21;  an  aggregate  in  the 
five  years  of  62,  or  an  average  of  less  than  13  per  year. 
The  East  Grand  River  has  become  the  smallest  of  all  the 
Iowa  Associations  and  has  been  passing  through  a  season 
of  great  spiritual  barrenness.  It  cannot  be  but  there  are 
pious  hearts  in  these  churches  who  are  sighing  and  crying 
unto  God.  Oh!  Lord  revive  th}^  work!  Wilt  thou  not 
revive  us  again?  and  their  prayers  will  be  heard.  God  is 
not  a  God  afar  off  that  He  cannot  hear  when  His  children 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  373 

cry  unto  Him.  The  above  words  had  been  written  before  we 
saw  the  report  for  1SS6.  And  now  comes  their  justification 
in  a  report  that  must  gladden  many  hearts.  Baptisms  in 
1886  were  88.  More  by  2G  than  in  the  previous  five  yeare. 
Total  membership,  462,  a  gain  over  last  year  of  11  (i  and  in 
two  3'ears  of  163  Were  we  to  seek  an  explanation,  or 
rather  a  confirmation  of  the  relation  between  spiritual  life 
and  benevolent  contributions,  we  might  find  it  here.  Dur- 
ing the  five  years  reviewed  above,  this  Association  was  but 
once  represented  in  the  treasury  of  ^  the  State  Convention. 
That  was  in  1881,  ,^40.48.  In  1885  the  whole  amount 
reported  for  benevolence  and  church  expenses,  eight 
churches  reporting,  was  $230.67.  But  in  1886,  under  the 
impulse  of  the  new  spiritual  life,  contributions  were:  For- 
eign Missions,  $39.14;  State  Missions,  $66.18;  local  ex- 
penses, $538,13;  total,  $643.45.  Comment  is  unnecessary. 
The  baptisms  in  1886  were  at  New  Salem,  E.  E.  Auxier, 
pastor,  33;  Pleasant  Valley,  A.  Vanderpool,  28;  Palestine, 
E.  E.  Auxier,  18;  Camden,  same  pastor,  8,  and  Bethel  one. 

MiTRRAY  Association. 

As  the  Murray  Association  was,  almost  wholly,  carved 
out  of  the  East  Grand  River  Association,  in  1881,  we  give 
it  place  to  complete  the  present  chapter.  The  churches 
constituting  it  were  Afton,  Wm.  Carpenter,  pastor,  33  mem- 
bers; Bethesda,  Hiram  Pearce,  65;  Greenfield,  42;  Mt.  Ayr, 
P.  Andrews,  35;  Murray,  H.  S.  Cloud,  61;  Osceola,  54; 
South  Creek,  E.  E.  Auxier,  12;  Union,  J.  D.  Burr,  23,  and 
Vernal,  I.  M.  Sea}^,  73.  All  but  the  South  Creek  Church 
came  out  of  the  East  Grand  River  Association.  No  won- 
der that  body  suffered.  Murray  starts  off  with  9  churclies, 
6  pastors  and  398  members.  Though  young,  it  contains 
the  oldest  churches  in  tliis  part  of  Iowa  dating  back,  some 
of  them,  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century.     The  anniver- 


374  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

saries  of  the  Association  have  been  held  at  Mt.  Ayr, 
Bethesda,  Greenfield,  Afton  and  Tingley.  Its  clerks  have 
been  Lemon  Bennett,  J.  D.  Burr  and  M.  J.  Sigler.  The 
pastors  in  1882  were  J.  D.  Burr,  Wni.  Carpenter,  H.  Pearce, 
P.  Andrews,  H.  S.  Cloud,  E.  E.  Auxier  and  R.  H.  Shafto 
at  Osceola  for  a  short  time.  In  1883  the  Clanton  Church 
near  the  south  line  of  Madison  county,  was  added  with  27 
members,  J.  R.  Stitt,  pastor.  The  history  of  this  church 
has  been  followed  through  the  Western  Iowa  and  Central 
Associations.  In  1884  Rev.  M.  J.  Sigler  appears  as  pastor 
at  Murray,  A.  Watson  at  Osceola  and  W.  E.  Graham  at 
Tingley.  The  Emmanuel  Church  was  added  in  1888,  and 
the  Tingley  and  Zion  churches  in  1884.  J.  H.  Miller,  pas- 
tor, of  the  last  named;  The  Fairview  Church  appears  in 
1885,  G.  W.  Smith,  pastor,  with  13  members.  In  1886,  A. 
H.  Lyons  at  Afton  and  Emmanuel,  and  W.  H.  Sayre  at 
Clanton  and  Fairview  are  added  to  the  pastoral  roll.  Bap- 
tisms in  the  Murray  Association  have  been  reported  in  the 
consecutive  years  as  follows:  5,  9,  15,  59,  56  and  19;  an 
aggregate  of  1(53,  or  an  average  of  27  per  year.  Contribu- 
tions to  State  Missions  for  the  six  years,  $502.63;  or  an 
average  of  $83.67.  These  are  hopeful  signs  of  a  healthy 
body. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 


The  Coox    Valley    Association — Okganized   in    1871. 

Dallas,  Guthrie,  and  pakts  of  Boone,  Greene, 

AND  Carroll  Counties — 1871  to  1886. 


IHE   COON   VALLEY   BAPTIST   ASSOCIA- 

tion  was  constitiited  in  1871,  with  eight 
churches,  having  four  pastors  and  330  mem- 
bers. The  churches  with  the  number  of 
members  reported  the  following  3'ear,  were. 
Coon  Valley,  41 ;  Calamus  Creek,  20 ;  Perry, 
44;  Panora,  26;  Panther  Creek,  28;  Pleasant  Valley,  16  ; 
North  Union,  61  ;  and  Guthrie  Center,  59.  The  Guthrie 
Center,  Panora,  and  Panther  Creek  churches  were  from  the 
Western  Iowa  Association;  the  old  North  Union  Church 
from  the  Upper  Des  Moines,  and  the  other  four  were  new 
organizations.  The  pastors  were  E.  J.  Wood,  J.  Hill.  J. 
Carson  and  A.  E.  Simons.  Brother  Simons  was  the  first 
clerk. 

The  second  meeting  was  at  Perry.  Rev.  J.  Hill,  Mod- 
erator, A.  E.  Simons,   clerk,  Deacon  A.   Parker  treasurer. 

Father  Hill   preached    the   introductory  sermon. 

The  Mt.  Zion  Church  was  received.  Among  the 
pastors  in  1872  in  addition  to  those  named  before,  are  Rev. 
E.  R.  Swain  at  Coon  Valley,  Ed.   Tuffin   at   Panora,    and 


1872. 


376  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

the  venerable  W.  J.  Sparks  at  North  Union.  A  timely 
ciroiilar  letter  written  by  A.  E.  Simons,  on  "The  duty  of 
rendering  to  pastors  a  just  compensation  for  their  labors," 
was  adopted  and  printed  in  the  Minutes,  Baptisms  report- 
ed in  1872,  82,  members  3U9.  The  anniversary  in  1873  was 
at  Guthrie  Center.  The  opening  sermon  was  by  Rev. 
George  Scott.  A.  E.  Simons  Moderator,  Deacon  C.  F.  Reed 
clerk.  The  Dexter  Church  was  received  with  13  members, 
but  no  pastor.  The  state  of  religion  was  reported  very  low. 
Only  two  baptisms  in  the  Association.  The  Perry  and 
North  Union  churches  have  completed  meeting  houses. 
The  Perry  and  Guthrie  Center  churches  report  Baptist 
Sabbath  Schools;  two  others  report  union  schools. 

In  1874  met  at  North   Union.     Introductory  sermon  by 

J.    Hill,   Moderator    George    Scott,    clerk   A.    E.    Simons. 

Mount  Zion  Church  has  become  extinct,  but  the 
1  RVzI 

Stuart  and  Freedom  churches  were  received.  Rev. 

George  Scott  is  preachijig  at  Dexter  and  Stuart.  There  is 
some  increase  of  spiritual  interest,  48  baptisms  reported, 
and  389  members,  A  gain  of  90.  A  missionary  commit- 
tee, appointed  the  year  before,  had  employed  Rev.  Wm. 
Wood  of  Cedar  Falls  for  three  months,  at  a  salary  of  ^50 
per  month.  He  had  labored  in  protracted  meetings  at 
Perry,  Guthrie  Center,  Calamus  Creek  and  North  Union. 
The  work  had  been  self  sustaining,  enough  being  received 
on  the  field  to  pay  all  expenses.  Brother  Wood  had  been 
entirely  laid  aside  by  sickness  ior  some  time.  The  fifth 
anniversary  was  held  in  1875  at  Perry.  Introductory 
sermon  by  Rev.  Wm^  J.  Sparks,  Rev.  H.  S.  Cloud  Moder- 
ator, A.  E.  Simons  clerk.  The  church  at  Perrj'^  had  had  a 
great  revival  and  baptized  53.  They  have  enlarged  their 
parsonage  and  made  it  a  commodious  dwelling  place  for 
their  pastor's  family.  They  have  a  prosperous  mission 
station  at  Peoples  Settlement,  8  miles  east,  which   will  ere 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  377 

long  become  a  self-sustaining  church.  Baptisms  reported 
in  the  Association  75,  otlier  additions  43,  members  475. 
TIic  amount  reported  for  church  expenses,  $2,450;  grand 
total  for  all  purposes  ^2571.20. 

In  1870  the  xlssociation  met  with  the  Freedom  Church. 
Rev.  H.  S.   Cloud  preached  the  annual  sermon  and  was 

elected   Moderator,  Brother  Simons   still   clerk. 

The  churches  were  all  represented  except  Panora, 
and  four  new  churches  were  received.  These  were  Rich- 
land Center,  North  Branch,  South  Coon  and  Dallas  Center. 
Rev.  J.  Carson  is  preaching  at  Richland  Center  and  South 
Coon,  H.  S.  Fish  at  North  Branch,  where  there  are  53 
members,  and  at  Guthrie  Center,'and  Rev.  Demas  Robinson 
at  Stuart.  Brother  Robert  MuUoy,  of  the  Calamus  Creek 
Church,  wrote  a  circular  letter  on  "The  faithful  perform- 
ance of  work  by  the  Lay  Members  of  the  church,"  which 
was  read  and  adopted  and  ordered  printed  in  the  minutes. 
It  was  the  writer's  privilege  to  witness  the  baptism  of 
Brother  MuUoy  in  1868,  he  having  been  previously  a 
member  of  the  Church  of  England.  The  circular  letter 
written  by  him  shows  a  very  intelligent  and  just  view  of 
the  duties  of  a  christian  and  a  member  of  the  church.  In 
1877  the  Association  met  with  the  Coon  Valley  church. 
Brother  Simons  preached  the  sermon  and  was  Moderator, 
C.  F.  Reed  clerk.  The  Dexter  church  had  disbanded. 
Rev.  E.  G.  O.  Groat  was  preaching  at  Guthrie  Center  and 
Dallas  Center,  Brother  Wm.  Hooks  at  Panther  Creek,  C.  F. 
Reed  at  Coon  Valley  and  North  Branch,  J.  F.  McCluen  at 
Richland  Center,  J.  M.  Gilbert  at  Calamus  Creek,  H.  S. 
Cloud  at  Freedom  and  Pleasant  Valley,  J.  Carson  at  South 
Coon,  A.  E.  Simons  at  Perry,  W.  J.  Sparks  at  North  Union, 
and  J.  A.  Nash  at  Stuart. 

The  Association  met  in  1878  for  its  Eighth  Anniversary 


378  HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES 

with  the  Peoples  Mission,  of  the  Perry  Church.  Rev.  J. 
Z.  Zimmerman  was,  by  a  vote  of  the  body,  in- 
vited to  preach  the  opening  sermon.  Rev.  J.  F. 
Childs,  of  Des  Moines,  was  elected  Moderator,  C.  F.  Reed, 
clerk.  The  Casey  Church  was  received  with  7  members, 
C.  F.  Reed,  pastor.  Brother  Childs  is  preaching  at  Stuart 
and  A.  J.  Delano  at  Guthrie  Center.  Rev.  Wm.  J.  Sparks 
died  June  30,  1878.  The  church  at  Stuart  have  bought  a 
house  of  worship  and  fitted  it  up  at  a  cost  of  $464.50. 
Met  in  1879  at  Guthrie  Center.  Rev.  J.  F.  Childs  preached 
the  annual  sermon  and  was  elected  Moderator,  C.  F.  Reed, 
clerk.  Rev.  A.  E.  Simons,  who  has  been  pastor  of  the 
Perry  Church  from  its  organization,  and  one  of  the  most 
efficient  members  of  this  body  through  the  ten  3^ears  of  its 
history,  has  removed  and  taken  up  work  at  Parkersburg, 
in  the  Cedar  Valley  Association.  Rev.  J.  M.  Gilbert,  of 
Calamus  Creek,  is  also  missed  from  the  councils  of  this 
Association,  but  Rev.  A.  Hunt  appears  as  pastor  at  Coon 
Valley  and  H.  W.  Wilson  at  Perry.  The  North  Union 
Church  has  returned  to  the  Upper  Des  Moines  Association, 
and  the  Peoples  Mission  has  become  a  separate  organiza- 
tion and  united  with  that  body  also.  Rev.  H.  S.  Cloud  has 
removed  to  Corning,  Adams  county,  Iowa.  The  departure 
of  Rev.  J.  Carson  from  this  Association  seems  to  have 
been  a  year  or  two  earlier. 

The  anniversary  in  1880  was  held  at  Perry.  Introduc- 
tory sermon  by  W.  F.  Hooks.  Moderator,  A.  Hunt,  clerk 
and  treasurer,  A.  D.  Phelps  of  Perry.  This  an- 
niversary  was  saddened  and  chastened  by  the 
death,  December  4,  1879,  of  the  beloved  father,  Rev.  Joshua 
Hill  of  Guthrie  Center,  who  ha*d  "by  reason  of  strength 
reached  four  score  years.''  The  Casey,  Richland  Center 
and  Dallas  Center  churches  disappear  from  th(3  records. 
Bro.  E.   Hatfield  appears   as  pastor  at  Calamus  Creek,  A. 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  379 

Mackey  at  Gutlirie  Center,  and  L.  W.  Atkins  at  Stuart. 
Other  pastors  are  W.  F.  Hooks  and  A.  Hunt.  There  are 
now  10  churches,  5  pastors,  39  baptisms  reported  and  408 
members.  Of  the  baptisms  22  were  at  Guthrie  Center. 
From  1881  to  1885  the  anniversaries  were  held  respectively 
at  South  Coon,  Panther  Creek,  Fredonia,  Pleasant  Valley, 
and  Peoples  church.  The  Moderators  in  the  order  named 
were  A.  Hunt  4  years,  and  A.  E.  Simons  ;  clerks  A.  D. 
Phelps  two  years,  A.  E.  Simons  two  years,  andF.  M.  Gaines. 

In  1881  Rev.  A.  Mackey  preached  the  annual  sermon, 

"A  thrilling  sermon  from  James  1:22,  'Be  3^e  doers  of  the 

word,  and  not  hearers  only.'"     Rev.  L.  D.  Lam- 

-I    O  Q  1  '  '' 

kin  was  preachinp;  at  Perry  and  Rev.  J.  M. 
Gilbert  removed  to  Creighton,  Nebraska.  The  Guthrie 
Center  church  spent  $500  in  permanent  improvements.  A 
Women's  Missionary  Society  for  the  Association  was  or- 
ganized. Sister  R.  E.  Bailey  president,  Naomi  Mackey 
secretary,  and  Sister  R.  B.  Reed  treasurer.  In  1882  Rev, 
C.  F.  Reed  preached  the  annual  sermon.  The  new  Bethel 
church  of  Audubon  county  was  received,  Charles  Berry 
pastor.  Rev.  A.  E.  Simons,  late  in  1882,  returned  to  his 
old  field  at  Perry.  In  1883  Rev.  Charles  Berry  preached 
the  introductory  sermon.  The  Peoples  Baptist  church  was 
received  from  the  Upper  Des  Moines  dissociation.  Rev. 
Harmon  Hunt  pastor,  with  35  members.  Rev.  W.  A. 
Welsher  of  Des  Moines  was  preaching  at  Stuart.  During 
the  Sabbath  session  of  the  Association  at  Freedom  in  1883 
the  exercises  were  suspended  to  hear  the  experience  of  a 
sister  who  wished  to  unite  with  the  Panther  Creek  church. 
This  sister,  who  lived  several  miles  from  the  place  of  meet- 
ing of  any  Baptist  church,  had  been  converted  while  at 
home  alone,  but  desired  to  follow  her  Lord  in  baptism  and 
find  fellowship  with  his  people.  Her  experience  was  clear 
and  satisfactory,  and  she  was  unanimously  received  by  the 


380  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

delegates  of  the  chiircli  with  which  she  wished  to  unite. 
Two  others,  a  man  and  his  wife,  who  had  been  immersed 
and  were  formerly  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church 
were  also  received  into  the  fellowship  of  the  Freedom 
church  at  the  close  of  the  morning  service.  It  was  voted 
to  hold  quarterly  meetings  of  the  Association,  the  object 
being  "  to  pray  and  talk  and  preach  the  gospel,  and  plan 
for  more  and  better  work  in  the  broad  field  the  Lord  has 
given  us.'' 

In  1880  the    Coon  Rapids  and  Mount  Zion  Churches 

were   received.       Rev.    A.    Mackey   was    pastor   at   Coon 

Rapids,  and  A.  Hunt  at  Mount  Zion.      Rev.  R. 

1   o  o  o  '  ' 

R.^Vlbin  was  preaching  at  Stuart.  Baptisms 
were  reported  by  the  Peoples  Church,  27;  Perry,  11;  Mt. 
Zion,  11;  Stuart,  7;  South  Coon,  5;  Coon  Rapids,  3;  Free- 
dom, 2,  and  Panther  Creek,  one;  making  67  in  all;  other 
additions,  52;  total  membership,  533.  Rev.  A.  Mackey, 
besides  Coon  Rapids,  is  supplying  New  Bethel  and  North 
Branch.  In  1885  the  Dallas  Center  Church  reappears  with 
45  members  reported,  but  no  statistics.  A  church  called 
Union  also  appears  with  41  members,  A.  Macke}^  pastor. 
Rev.  F.  M.  Gaines  is  preaching  at  Freedom.  In  1886  we 
find  Rev.  D.  L.  Clouse  settled  at  Perry,  F.  M.  Gaines 
preaching  at  Freedom,  Pleasant  Valley  and  Peoples,  A. 
Mackey  at  Union  and  W.  F.  Hooks  at  Panther  Creek. 
Baptisms  36;  membership  548.  Rev.  A.  E.  Simons  has 
yielded  to  the  necessity  of  taking  rest  for  a  season  from 
the  full  work  of  the  pastorate,  and  is  in  business  at  Emer- 
son, Iowa,  but  still  preaching  the  Word  as  occasion  offers. 
It  is  much  to  the  credit  of  Rev.  Wm.  F.  Hooks  and  the 
Panther  Creek  Church  that,  raised  up  and  called  into  the 
ministry  among  that  people,  he  has  been  enabled,  regularly, 
to  break  unto  them  the  Bread  of  Life  without  interruption 
for  ten  year;  first  as  Licensed   by  them,  and  afterwards, 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  881 

Jauuaiy  29,  188U,  Ordained.  The  important  question  of 
continuing  in  one  place  in  the  ministry  has  not  been  with- 
out consideration  in  the  Coon  Valley  Association.  At  the 
meeting  in  1885  the  Circular  Letter,  written  by  Mrs.  Naomi 
Mackey,  treated  with  ability  the  subject  of  the  pastoral 
relation,  and  especially  the  advantages  of  long  pastorates 
and  how  to  secure  them.  We  append  one  or  two  extracts. 
"A  strangers  first  sermon  may  please  the  people  im- 
mensely because  it  enunciates  and  explains  some  truth 
already  thoroughly  understood  by  them.  The  sermon 
may  not  lead  them  one  step  higher  in  christian  knowledge, 
but  their  self  love  has  been  tickled  to  find  the  stranger  agree- 
ing with  them  and  stating  their  views  eloquently.  The 
pastor  who  has  been  long  on  the  field  learns  where  his 
people  are  weakest  and  on  what  points  they  most  need 
instruction,  and  can  govern  himself  accordingly.  '•  *  * 
An  old  friend  whose  love  has  been  proved  so  as  to  be  beyond 
a  doubt  can  do  this  much  more  efficiently  than  a  recent 
acquaintance."  That  is,  can  reprove,  rebuke,  and  give  the 
needed  instruction  to  strengthen  the  weak  places.  "A 
magnetic  orator,  without  a  clean  heart,  can  rouse  and  fire 
and  sway  an  audience  by  his  presence  and  oratoiy  and  the 
result  be  little  permanent  good  and  much  permanent  evil. 
"  "■  "  But  when  personal  magnetism  and  the  grace  and 
charm  of  oratory  are  backed  by  a  known  character  of 
christian  consistency,  then  the  oratory  is  a  power  for  good. 
The  pastor  is  to  be  a  care-taker — one  to  lake  care  of  the 
church.  The  preacher  who  stops  with  the  church  only  a 
few  months  or  a  year  hardl}^  gets  acquainted  with  the 
people,  certainly  not  so  acquainted  as  to  love  them  and 
care  for  them  as  a  pastor  should.  "  "  '"  Even  a  farm 
that  changes  tenants  every  year  is  soon  overgrown  with 
weeds  and  in  a  dilapidated  condition."' 

This  Association  has  some  elements  of  histor}^  peculiar 


382 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 


to  itself.  Bordering  closely  upon  the  capitol  of  the  State 
on  one  side,  centrally  located,  and  cultivating  a  district 
comprising  in  whole  and  in  part,  six  counties,  it  has  but 
one  county  seat  church,  and  that  not  strong.  It  has  few 
churches  located  in  the  towns.  It  has  had  less  missionary 
aid,  perhaps,  relatively,  than  any  other  Association  in  the 
State.  It  has  fewer  meeting  houses,  or  has  had  until  re- 
cently, than  other  parts  of  the  State.  The  churches  are 
weak,  and  yet  there  has  been  a  noble  holding  on  and  a 
faithful  cultivating  of  the  field  with  the  means  at  hand. 
By  the  advent  of  railroads  and  mining  interests,  changes 
are  being  wrought  that  betoken  more  rapid  growth,  and 
emphasize  the  importance  of  a  more  vigorous  cultivation 
of  this  field  and  increased  cooperation  between  the  Associ- 
ation and  our  General  Missionary  Societies,  State  and 
Home. 


CHAPTER  XL. 


East    Nodaway     Association  —  Okganized     1874. 

Between   the    Southwestekn   and   East 

Grand    River  — 1875    to    1886. 

SJMS^^IT  the  meeting  of  the  Southwestern  Association 
held  at  Bedford,  Iowa,  in  1874,  a  committee 
reported  in  favor  of  the  formation  of  a  new 
Association  between  that  Association  and 
East  Grand  River,  on  the  east  of  it;  and  a 
meeting  was  appointed  to  be  held  at  Corning,  in  Novem- 
ber of  that  year  for  the  purpose  of  organization.  In  1875 
we  find  a  record,  accordingly,  of  the  £ast  Nodaway  Asso- 
ciation,  with  15  churches,  9  pastors,  45  baptisms  during 
the  year,  and  694  members.  Ten  of  the  churches  were 
from  the  East  Grand  River  Association,  and  only  three 
from  the  Southwestern.  The  names  of  the  churches,  with 
their  pastors  and  the  number  of  members  in  each,  were  as 
follows:  Adams  County  1st  Church,  D.  C.  Ellis,  80;  Bed- 
ford, G.  W.  Robey,  118;  Buchanan,  I.  M.  Seay,  35;  Corning, 
P.  Andrews,  65;  Goshen,  E.  Ellis,  44;  Hayden  Grove,  I.  M. 
Seay,  50;  Hickory  Grove,  M.  M.  Case,  17;  Memory,  I.  M. 
Seay,  29;  Mormontown,  Wm.  Golding,  28;  Mount  Zion,  E. 
Otis,  20;   New   Hope,  E.  Otis,  20;    Platte  Prairie,  D.   T. 


884  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Smith,  23;  Platteville,  E.  Otis,  26;  Prescott,  Wm.  aoldino-, 
80,  and  Union,  E.  Otis,  47.  The  first  clerk  of  the  new 
Association  was  J.  A.  Marle3^  of  Memory. 

The  Second  Anniversary  was  held  at  Prescott,  in  1876. 
J.  A.  Marley,  clerk,  then  of  Clarinda.     Hickory  Grove  and 

Platte  Prairie  were  dropped  from  the  record,  but 

1876 

three  new  churches  were  added,  viz  :  Grant  Cen- 
ter, Kent  and  Lennox.  D.  T.  Smith  is  pastor  of  the  first 
two  and  Wm.  Golding  of  the  last.  Eighty-three  baptisms 
are  reported  and  746  members.  The  East  Nodaway  Asso- 
ciation may  be  said  to  have  sprung  into  being  full-grown, 
to  have  been  launched  on  its  voyage  of  usefulness  under 
favorable  winds,  and  possessing  elements  of  strength  and 
vitality.  In  1877  it  met  at  Bedford.  Brother  Marley  still 
acts  as  clerk.  The  Conway  Church  was  received  with  9 
members,  J.  B.  Ritner,  pastor,  and  Hopkins,  Missouri,  27 
members,  Joseph  Yates,  pastor.  Rev.  J.  D.  Burr  is  pastor 
at  Corning.  The  First  Church  Adams  county  entertained 
the  Association  in  1878.  One  hundred  and  seven  baptisms 
were  reported  and  1,029  members.  Bedford  Church, 
Brother  Robey  still  pastor,  reports  75  baptized  and  80  by 
letter,  and  a  total  membership  of  278.  This  church,  in 
1878,  ranked  third  in  the  State  in  members,  Davenport 
being  first  with  372  members  and  Waterloo  second  with 
342.  Rev.  J.  D.  Adams  appeared  as  pastor  at  Mt.  Zion 
and  J.  W.  Hough  at  Prescott.  The  anniversary  of  the 
State  Convention  was  held  at  Bedford  in  1878.  The  first 
and  only  time  it  has  ever  been  held  southwest  of  Dea 
Moines.  The  Association  met  in  1879  at  Lennox.  The 
Hopkins  Church  was  dropped  and  Creston  received  from 
the  East  Grand  River  Association.  Buchanan  also  disap- 
pears and  Carbon  comes  from  the  Southwestern.  Carbon 
enjoyed  a  revival  in  1878,  in  which  17  were  baptized  and 
the  membership  raised  to  91. 


OF   TOW  A    BAPTISTS.  385 

In  1880  the  anniversary  was  at  Carbon.     The  .Summer- 
set  Church  was   received  with   21   members,  H.  S.  Cloud 

Dastor.     W.  K.  Miller  is  preachino;  at  Cornino;, 
1  RRD         * 

E.  J.  Lockwood    at   Hayden   Grove,   and   J.    L. 

Blakely  at  Union  Church.  Conway  entertained  tlie  anni- 
versary in  1881,  J.  D.  Burr  clerk.  Brother  Marley  had 
served  as  clerk  up  to  1880.  Rev.  G'  W.  Robey  closed  his 
honored  pastorate  of  six  years  at  Bedford,  and  removed  to 
Moberly,  Mo.  Rev.  C.  E.  Taylor,  recently  of  Grinnell, 
Iowa,  is  his  successor.  Rev.  T.  K.  Tyson  appears  as  pas- 
tor at  Conway,  Grant  Center  and  Lenox.  Rev.  William 
Carpenter  is  supplying  Prescott  in  connection  with  Alton 
in  the  Murray  Association.  Brother  Andrews  is  preaching 
at  Goshen,  and  R.  Bosisto  at  Summerset.  Every  pastor 
dates  the  beginning  of  work  on  his  present  field  this  year, 
1881,  except  two.  H.  S.  Cloud  at  Bethel  dates  back  to 
1879,  and  E.  Otis  at  Hayden  Grove  to  1880.  The  latter  is 
a  return  to  an  old  field  where  Brother  Otis  preached  for 
many  years.  Bedford  was  the  place  of  meeting  in  1882, 
T.  K.  Tyson  clerk.  Rev.  G.  T.  Colvin  is  preaching  at  Car- 
bon and  Corning.  Clearfield  is  added  to  the  list  of  churches. 
There  are  now  20  churches,  9  pastors,  88  baptisms  reported, 
and  911  members.  Rev.  A.  B.  White  succeeded  a  little 
later  to  the  work  at  Corning  and  some  other  points.  Brother 
White  was  a  man  of  considerable  ability  who  came  from 
Springfield,  Ohio,  and  after  securing  recognition  and  honors, 
and  doing  some  good  work  among  our  churches  in  South- 
western Iowa,  discovered  that  he  was  not  in  sympathy 
with  the  teachings  and  practices  of  our  denomination,  and 
withdrew  from  us. 

In   1883  the   Association  met  at  Creston.     The  former 

clerk.  Brother  J.  A.  Marley,  returned  to  his  post.     Rev. 

James  M.  Smith  returned  from  Indiana,  where  he 

had  been  for  several  years,  and  is  living  at  Bed- 


386  HISTORICAX   SKETCHES. 

ford.  Rev.  Edward  Otis,  for  seventeen  years  pastor  of  the 
Hayden  Grrove  Church,  died,  September  1,  1882.  He 
preached  his  last  sermon  only  the  Sunday  before  his  death. 
The  meeting  in  1884  was  with  the  Adams  County  First 
Church.  Rev.  I.  M.  Seay  was  Moderator.  Rev.  A.  Jacobs 
had  succeeded  C.  E.  Taylor  at  Bedford.  Revs.  W.  C.  Shep- 
herd and  A.  B.  Buckner  were  ordained  at  Mormontown  on 
April  5,  1884,  and  Rev.  H.  C.  Nash  came  from  Marley, 
Illinois,  and  succeeded  G.  A.  Hertzog  at  Creston.  Brother 
Hertzog  settled  in  Creston  in  1883.  The  eleventh  annual 
meeting  was  held  with  the  Mount  Zion  Church  in  1885. 
I.  M.  Seay  Moderator,  H.  C.  Nash  clerk.  The  names  of 
five  churches.  Carbon,  Clearfield,  Grant  Center,  Lenox  and 
Platteville,  are  erased  from  the  list.  The  Delphos,  Gay 
Street  and  Mount  Pleasant  churches  were  added.  Rev. 
W.  G.  Howard  was  ordained  at  New  Market,  February  21, 
1885. 

The  report  for  1886  brings  inspiring  news  with  which  to 
close  this  sketch.  Number  of  baptisms  reported  129;  mem- 
bers 900.  The  number  of  members  is  less  than 
in  the  recent  years,  but  the  number  of  baptisms 
shows  a  good  degree  of  spiritual  life.  Thirteen  of  the  20 
churches  are  represented  in  the  baptisms,  in  numbers  rang- 
ing from  one  to  45.  The  larger  sharers  are  Mt.  Zion,  45; 
Mormontown,  25;  Delphos,  12;  Creston  11  and  Gay  Street 
10.  Rev.  A.  Stott  is  pastor  at  Bedford,  George  E.  Eldridge 
at  Gravity  and  New  Market,  Samuel  Meacham  at  Pleasant 
Hill  and  W.  J.  Howard  at  Corning.  Other  pastors  are  H. 
S.  Cloud,  W.  C.  Shepherd,  H.  C.  Nash,  Wm.  Golding  and 
J.  M.  Smith.  The  East  Nodaway  Association  bids  fair  to 
be  a  growing  force  in  the  field  which  it  is  to  till  for  the 
Master. 


CHAPTER   XLI 


The   Sioux   Valley    Association — Organized   in    1874. 

Sioux  City — Cherokee — And  the  Great 

Northwest — Recent    but    Rapid 

Development^ — 1874  to  1886. 


|ORTH WESTERN  Iowa,  as  noticed  in  chapter 
thirty,  formerly  all  belonged  to  the  Western 
Iowa  Association.  The  Sioux  City  Baptist 
Church,  organized  irx  1860  and  connected  with 
that  body  in  1861,  stood  alone  in  this  region, 
for  many  miles  around,  for  full  ten  years.  To  show  the 
newness  of  this  part  of  the  state  we  quote  the  following, 
found  in  a  recent  number  of  a  Sioux  City  paper:  "On  the 
26th  of  December,  1855,  Sioux  City  comprised  six  log- 
houses."  One  of  these,  doubtless  a  rude  boarding  house 
for  the  emigrants  who  had  begun  to  liock  to  the  new  town, 
was  called  the  "  Pacific  Hotel ;"  but  for  reasons  easily  im- 
agined it  was  more  frequently  denominated  the  "Terrific 
Hotel.''  Another,  the  "Revier  House,"  was  called  the 
"Severe  House."  This  was  Sioux  City  a  little  more  than 
thirty  years  ago. 

In  1870  or  1871  the  Cherokee  Baptist  Church  was  organ- 
ized, the  second  Baptist  church  in  tlie  large  territory  now 


388  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

occupied  by  tlie  Sioux  Valley  Association.  About  this 
time  Rev.  James  Sunderland  became  pastor  at  Sioux  City, 
and  ver}^  soon  began  to  point  out  the  importance  of  this 
part  of  the  state.  In  1872  there  were  nine  unassociated 
Baptist  churches  onthisfield.  Most  of  them  united  with  the 
Western  Association  the  next  year,  but  in  1874,  on  Friday 
before  the  fourch  Sunday  in  August,  a  Convention  was 
held  at  Storm  Lake,  and  the  Sioux  Valley  Association  was 
duly  organized.  The  following  named  churches  entered 
into  the  organization:  Cherokee,  A.  W.  Hilton  pastor,  72 
members ;  Sioux  City,  James  Sunderland,  94 ;  Pioneer 
Church,  21  ;  Spencer,  15;  Spirit  Lake,  J.  L.  Coppoc,  30; 
Silver  Lake,  11  ;  South  Plymouth,  7 ;  Storm  Lake,  Norman 
Parks,  30 ;  Union  Ridge,  14;  Wolf  Creek,  J.  Patrick,  40; 
Wolf  Dale,  J.  Patrick,  15.  Thus  there  were  11  churclies,  5 
pastors,  and  349  members,  83  of  whom  had  been  baptized 
within  the  year.  Sioux  City  reported  47  baptisms,  Cliero- 
kee  18,  Wolf  Dale  9,  and  others  from  2  to  4.  L.  H.  Chapin 
of  Spencer  was  the  first  clerk. 

In  1875  the  first  anniversary  was  held  at  Spirit  Lake. 
J.  L.  Coppoc,  clerk.  Rev.  A.  W.  Hilton  has  been  succeed- 
ed at  Cherokee  bv  E.  N.  Jenks,  and  Rev.  C.  S. 
Thomas  was  preaching  at  Spencer  and  Silver 
Lake.  Brother  Hilton  died  not  far  from  this  time.  In 
1870  the  Association  was  to  meet  at  Cherokee,  but  we  are 
not  in  possession  of  any  account  of  the  meeting  nor  the 
work  of  that  year.  In  1877  two  new  churches  appear  in 
the  list.  Correctionville  and  Camp  Creek,  but  four  names 
are  missed  since  1875,  viz.:  Spencer,  Silver  Lake,  Union 
Ridge  and  Wolf  Dale.  Rev.  H.  O.  Hiscox  was  preaching 
at  Sioux  City  in  1877,  and  reported  28  baptized  and  155 
members.  Rev.  J.  Sunderland,  owing  to  impaired  health 
and  unfavorable  eifects  of  the  climate,  had  resigned  in 
Sioux  City  in  1875,  and  become  chaplain  of  the  State  Pen- 


OF    IOWA    BAl'TISTS.  889 

itentiary  at  Ft.  Madison,  and  in  1876  was  pastor  at  Ottiim- 
wa,  Iowa.  In  1877  Rev.  J.  S.  McSparren  was  preaching  at 
Correctionville  and  Wolf  Creek,  Carlos  Wilcox  at  Storm 
Lake,  E.  C.  Bennett  at  Camp  Creek,  J.  W.  Jones  at  Pioneer 
and  R.  J.  Munn  at  South  Plymouth.  F.  R.  Morehead  of 
Sioux  City  was  clerk. 

The  fifth  annual  meeting  occurred  at  Storm  Lake  in  1878. 
Rev.  J.  Edminster,  who  had  become  pastor  at  Cherokee, 
preached  the  sermon  and  was  elected  Moderator, 
J.  S.  McSparren  clerk  and  treasurer.  Though 
the  Spencer  Church  made  no  report,  it  was  voted  nbt  to 
drop  it  from  the  list,  and  that  a  committee  be  appointed, 
consisting  of  Brethren  Edminster,  Coppoc,  Wilcox,  and 
McSparren,  "to  convey  our  expressions  of  sympathy  to  the 
Spencer  brethren  and  to  preach  to  them."'  Rev.  P.  M. 
McLeod  has  succeeded  H.  O.  Hiscox  at  Sioux  City,  Broth- 
er Coppoc,  after  an  interval  of  absence,  has  returned  to  the 
work  at  Spirit  Lake.  Rev.  J,  Sunderland,  secretary  of  the 
State  Convention  in  1878,  in  the  annual  report  of  the  Board 
makes  a  strong  appeal  in  behalf  of  this  section  of  the  State, 
in  which  he  says,  "Cheap  and  fertile  lands  are  attracting 
settlers.  Railroads  are  extending,  and  new  towns  are 
springing  up  through  all  this  region,  and  will  be  largely 
increased  during  the  few  years  to  come,  thus  increasing  the 
facility  and  the  desirableness  of  settlement.  It  is  an  op- 
portune time  to  move  now  towards  its  cultivation.  Society 
should  crystalize  around  the  church,  and  not  the  church 
come  in  as  an  afterthought."  In  1879  the  sixth  anniver- 
sary met  with  the  church  at  Cherokee.  The  opening  ser 
mon  was  by  Rev.  P.  M.  McLeod;  Moderator,  Carlos  Wilcox, 
clerk,  A.  H.  Frain.  The  Peterson  and  Sibley  churches 
were  received.  Rev.  T.  H.  Judson  was  preaching  at  Sibley 
and  Spencer.  An  interesting  Sunday  School  Conven  tion 
was  held  in  connection  with  this  meetino-.  All  the  churches 


390  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

were  engaged  in  Sunday  School  work.  Members  of  the 
church  at  Cherokee  were  engaged  in  five  schools  besides 
their  home  school. 

Sioux  City  was  the  place  of  meeting  in  1880.     Rev.  J. 
Boswell,  of  Storm  Lake,  was  the  clerk.     Brother  Edmin- 

ster  had  been  succeeded  at  Cherokee  by  Rev. 

George  H.  Brown.  Rev.  E.  M.  Hay  burn  pastor 
at  Sibley  and  Jesse  Boswell  at  Storm  Lake.  The  number 
of  churches  was  13;  pastors  8;  baptisms  reported  49;  mem- 
bers 519.  Rev.  J.  Edminster  has  removed  to  Parker, 
Dakota,  and  his  successor  came  from  Sycamore,  Illinois. 
The  Association  met  in  1881  at  Wolf  Creek.  Jesse  Bos- 
well, clerk.  Rev.  James  Mitchell  was  preaching  at  the 
Judson  Church,  which  first  appeared  in  1880.  Brother 
McLeod  removed  from  Sioux  City  to  Wisconsin,  and  Rev. 
D.  R.  Watson  has  become  pastor  at  Sioux  City.  The 
Pioneer  changes  its  connection  to  a  Welsh  Association. 
In  1882  the  place  of  meeting  was  Spencer.  Rev.  George 
H.  Brown,  clerk.  The  Hartley  and  Sioux  Rapids  Churches 
were  received.  Rev.  F.  H.  Hannah  and  A.  V.  Bloodgood, 
pastors,  respectively.  Rev.  James  Mitchell  has  removed 
to  Fredericksburg,  Iowa.  The  brethren  at  Sioux  City  have 
been  engaged  in  building  a  new  and  commodious  house  of 
worship.  The  amounts  raised  in  the  Association  this  year 
are:  for  local  expenses,  $3,967.76;  permanent  improvements, 
$10,065.00;  denominational  benevolence,  $431.25;  grand 
total,  $14,489.26.  For  an  Association  not  yet  ten  years  old, 
and  most  of  the  churches  not  much  older,  here  is  a  remark- 
able showing.  Only  two  Associations  in  the  State  report 
a  larger  amount  of  money  raised  for  all  purposes. 

The  place  of  meeting  in  1883  was  Cherokee  again.     J. 
S.   Coghlan,  clerk.      The  Antioch  Church  was   enrolled. 

Rev.  J.  S.  McSparren  is  now  pastor  at  Camp 
^^^^-       Creek,  C.   A.  McManis  at  Storm  Lake  and  D.  C. 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS-.  391 

Ellis  at  Spencer.  Sibley,  Sioux  Rapids  and  Spencer  are 
engaged  in  building.  There  are  now  in  the  Association  14 
churches,  9  pastors,  27  baptisms  reported  and  598  members. 
Rev.  Jesse  Boswell,  of  Storm  Lake,  after  a  pastorate  of  3 
years,  has  resigned  and  left  the  State.  In  1884  Sibley  en- 
tertained the  Association.  Miss  E.  Mabel  Kinney,  of 
Cherokee,  clerk.  Rev.  B.  H.  Brasted  is  pastor  at  Spirit 
Lake  and  Milford,  W.  H.  Dorward  at  Sheldon,  where  a 
church  has  been  organized,  N.  A.  Reed,  D.  D.,  at  Cherokee 
and  T.  A.  Maxonat  Correctionville.  Other  pastors  in  1884 
are  S.  Jones  at  Antioch,  R.  J.  Munn  at  Camp  Creek,  D.  C. 
Ellis  at  Spencer  and  Hartly,  A.  V.  Bloodgood  at  Sioux 
Rapids  and  Peterson,  E.  M.  Heyburn  at  Sibley,  D.  R. 
Watson  at  Sioux  City,  C.  A.  McManis  at  Storm  Lake  and 
E.  C.  Bennett  at  Wolf  Creek. 

Met  in  1885  at  Sioux  City.  W.  F.  Thomas,  of  Sioux 
City,  clerk.  Rev.  C.  A.  McManis  has  removed  to  Ohio  and 
J.  B.  Edmonson  succeeds  him  in  due  time  at 
Storm  Lake.  Rev.  D.  R.  Watson  has  resigned  at 
Sioux  City  and  P.  D.  Rickerson,  D.  D.,  of  Des  Moines, 
takes  up  the  work  in  that  field.  Rev.  W.  C.  Pratt  succeeds 
W.  H.  Dorward  at  Sheldon.,  and  M.  H.  Perry  supplies, 
for  a  little  seavson,  at  Sioux  Rapids  and  Spencer.  The 
Hawarden  and  Lakeport  Churches  were  enrolled.  Seventy- 
nine  baptisms  were  reported  and  the  present  membership 
761.  Correctionville  dedicated  a  house  on  November  16, 
1884,  and  Sheldon  March  15,  1885.  The  cost  of  the 
former  was  $1,200  and  of  the  latter  was  $2,000.  In  1886 
the  report  shows  15  churches,  11  pastors,  68  baptisms  and 
809  members.  The  Doon  Church  seems  to  be  added,  and 
Antioch  and  Camp  Creek  disappear.  Rev.  L.  Lovelace  is 
preaching  at  Doon  and  Judson,  and  J.  P.  Coffman  at 
Hawarden. 

The  history  of  the  Sioux  Valley  Association  has  been 


392  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

one  of  stead}^  progress.  No  great  revivals  have  been 
enjoyed  by  the  churches  generally,  such  as  we  have  been 
permitted  to  record  in  many  of  the  earlier  Associations. 
The  largest  number  of  baptisms  in  one  year  was  79  in  1885. 
The  next  largest  68  in  1886.  In  no  other  year  have  tliere 
been  60.  The  average  for  10  years  not  quite  34.  The 
smallest  number  in  one  year  12.  The  largest  membership 
reported  was  in  1886,  809;  the  smallest  in  1875,  360. 


.^^^^ 


^ 


REV.   T.   S.   GRIFFITH. 


CHAPTER  XLII. 

Atlantic  Association — Organized  in  1874 — First,  Prai- 
rie Association — Then  Council  Bluffs. 
Now  Atlantic— 1874  to   1886. 


RAIRIE  BAPTIST  ASSOCIATION  was  organ- 
ized in  1874.  Tile  Southwestern  Association 
liad  grown  so  large  that,  as  early  as  1872,  a 
movement  was  started  to  divide  it,  wliicli  re- 
sulted as  stated  above.  The  churches  at 
Atlantic,  Big  Grove,  Harlan  and  Newlon's  Grove  consti- 
tuted the  Association.  The  following  was  the  roll  : 
Atlantic,  A.  Stott  pastor,  85  members  ;  Big  Grove,  E.  Burch, 
58 ;  Harlan,  J.  E.  Rockwood,  66  ;  Newlon's  Grove,  J.  R. 
Morris,  12;  total  221.  The  Prairie  Association  thus  launched 
upon  the  sea  of  life  was  a  small  body,  but  it  gives  evidence 
of  vitality.  Every  church  has  a  pastor  and  every  one  has 
baptized  converts  within  the  year.  Rev.  E.  Burch  is  the 
clerk. 

The  first  anniversary  or  second  annual  meeting  was  held 
with  the  Big  Grove  church.  Avoca,  32  members,  Lewis, 
28,  and  New  Hope,  14,  are  added.  Harlan  reports 
W.  A.  Dorward  as  pastor,  and  Lewis,  F.  W. 
Leonard.     Pastors   Stott   and   Burch  remain  as  last  year. 


1875. 


394  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Churches.  7,  pastors  4,  baptisms  5,  members  317;  church 
expenses  ^3,729.50;  benevolent  contributions  860.45.  There 
is  contributed  to  the  State  Convention  this  year  $20.25. 
The  young  Association  is  evidently  starting  to  cultivate 
the  missionary  spirit.  Five  Sunday  schools  are  supported, 
of  which  one  is  a  mission  scliool ;  40  officers  and  teachers 
and  251  scholars. 

Avoca  is  the  place  appointed  for  the  meeting.  A.  J. 
Delano  is  clerk.  The  name  of  the  Association  was  this 
year  changed  from  "Prairie"  to  the  Council 
1876.  Bluffs  Baptist  Association.  The  Wiota  Church 
with  29  members,  Rev.  J.  Currier,  pastor,  the  Council 
Bluffs,  T.  F.  Thickstun,  110,  and  the  Prussian— Fonta- 
nelle — E.  Burch,  with  10  members  are  added,  and  Avoca 
disappears  from  the  list.  Rev.  A.  J.  Delano  is  pastor  at 
Atlantic,  Rev.  Arthur  Stott  having  removed  to  Fort  Madi- 
son in  the  Keokuk  Association.  Rev.  W.  F.  Arnold  is  at 
Big  Grove  and  New  Hope,  Rev.  Gilman  Parker  at  Harlan. 
There  are  now,  churches  9,  pastors  6,  baptisms  reported  35, 
other  additions  52;  present  membership  432.  Reported 
for  home  expenses  81,590;  benevolent  contributions  811^^. 
Of  the  baptisms  New  Hope  reports  10.  and  Council  Bluffs 
13.     Atlantic  reports  church  property  valued  at  83,000. 

The  place   designated  for  the  anniversary  this  year  is 
Newlon's  Grove.      C.  M.  Robins  of  Harlan,  clerk.      Bow- 
man's  Grove  and  Shelby    churches    are  added 
^  with  15  and  18  members.     Rev.  E.  C.    M.   Burn- 

ham  has  succeeded  A.  J.  Delano  at  Atlantic,  and  J.  Hockett 
is  reported  pastor  of  the  Prussian  Church,  Fontanelle. 
Other  pastors  are  E.  Burch,  Big  Grove  and  New  Hope, 
Gilman  Parker,  Harlan  and  Bowman's  Grove,  W.  F.  Ar- 
nold, Newlon's  Grove,  and  T.  F.  Thickstun,  Council  Bluff's. 
Conncil  Bluffs   are  building,    or   have  completed,  a  good 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  395 

meeting  house.  Material  progress  is  being  made  in  the 
Association.  Home  expenses,  evidently  including  Perma- 
nent Improvement,  $6,770;  benevolent  contributions  $207.71; 
value  of  church  property  $17,100,  of  whicli  Council  Bluffs 
reports  $10,000,  Atlantic  $3,000,  Harlan  $3,000,  Lewis  $300, 
and  Shelby  $800.  Indications  of  Spiritual  vitality  are  also 
seen.  Atlantic  reports  18  baptized,  Bowman's  Grove  11, 
Council  Bluffs,  10,  Harlan  8  and  Shelby  7;  other  baptisms 
9.  Churches  now  11,  pastors  6,  baptisms  63;  total  member- 
ship 518. 

Shelby  is  the  place  of  the  annual  meeting  this  year, 
C.  M.  Robins  clerk.  Another  year  of  spiritual  blessing, 
especially  in  the  Atlantic  and  Harlan  churches, 
where  have  been  baptized  respectively  13  and  21 
members.  Bowman's  Grove  reports  7,  Council  Bluffs  3, 
Shelby  2,  and  Wiota  1.  J.  R.  Wheeler  is  reported  pastor 
at  Atlantic,  R.  Corbett  at  Lewis,  and  P.  Andrews  at  Shelby 
and  Wiota.  Brother  E.  Burch  is  still  preaching  at  Big 
Grove  and  New  Hope,  Gilman  Parker  at  Harlan  and 
Bowman's  Grove,  T.  F.  Thickstun  at  Council  Bluff's,  and 
W.  F  Arnold  at  Newlon's  Grove.  There  are  now  11 
churches,  7  pastors,  47  baptisms  reported,  and  a  member- 
ship of  553.  Contributed  for  Home  Expenses,  $3'505.91 ; 
benevolent  purposes  $288.89.  Ten  Sundaj^  schools,  78 
officers  and  teachers,  734  scholars,  and  a  total  average  at- 
tendance of  482.  Sunday  school  expenses  $221.05.  Harlan 
has  a  mission  school  with  5  officers  and  teachers  and  40 
scholars.     Two  of  the  schools  reported  are  union  schools. 

The  sixth  annual  meeting  was  at  Council  Bluffs.     C.  M. 

Robins  continues  as  clerk.  E.  Burch,  P.  Andrews  and  W. 
F.  Arnold  are  missed  from  among  the  pastors  of 
last.  year.      Wheeler,    Parker,    Thickstun    and 

Corbett  remain,  and  H.  C.  Adams  is  preaching  at  Shelby. 


396  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Bowman's  Gfrove  reports  17  baptisms,  Council  Bluffs  12, 
Harlan  3,  Wiota  3,  and  Big  Grove  2.  Atlantic,  Council 
Bluffs  and  Harlan  report  114  members,  128  and  118  respec- 
tively. The  next  largest,  Bowman's  Grove,  lias  but  43. 
Council  Bluffs  will  not  soon  cease  to  bear  the  marks  of 
Brother  and  Sister  Thickstun's  toil  and  sacrifice  in  the  con- 
struction of  their  commodious  meeting  house.  Some  very 
sad  things  have  since  occurred  in  the  history  of  Council 
Bluff's  Baptists,  but  that  monument  of  honor  now  stands, 
and  the  Master  has  much  people  in  that  city  still,  and  "of 
Zion  it  shall  be  said,  This  man  was  born  there,  and  This 
and  that  man  were  born  in  her.  " 

Atlantic  entertains.  C.  M.  Robins  clerk.  Churches  10, 
pastors  4,  baptisms  3,  total  membership  550.  Bowman's 
Grove  is  evidently  engaged  in  building  as  they 
report  $1,302  total  expenses,  and  have  preaching 
a  part  of  the  time.  Rev.  Gilman  Parker  has  resigned  at 
Harlan  and  is  found  this  year  at  Washington,  Iowa.  Rev. 
W.  A.  Welsher  is  preaching  at  Harlan  and  Bowman's 
Grove,  Rev.  J.  F.  Heilner  at  Atlantic,  T.  F.  Thickstun  at 
Council  Bluffs  since  1868,  twelve  years,  and  R.  Corbett  at 
Wiota  since  1878.  Five  of  the  ten  churches  report  no 
preaching  and  virtually  nothing  doing.  It  is  a  year  of 
desolation  in  Zion  in  the  Council  Bluff's  Association,  and 
not  alone  in  this  Association.  One  other  in  the  State  re- 
ports but  one  baptism.  The  financial  record  is  considera- 
bly below  last  year.  The  contributions  for  Convention 
$79.36.  Harlan  has,  so  far  as  known,  the  only  parsonage 
in  the  Association  valued  at  $1,000.  Bowman's  Grove  ded- 
icated their  meeting  house  October  10,  costing  $1,000. 

The  meeting  in  1881  is  at  Bowman's  Grove.  D.  C.  Cady 
of  Atlantic  is  clerk.  The  name  of  C.  M.  Robins  of  Harlan, 
so  long  a  fixture  in  this  clerkship  is  thus  missed  from   its 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  397 

accustomed  place.     This  brother,  if  the  writer  mistake  not, 

is  a  near  relative,  if  not   a   brother   of  President   Robins 

of  Waterville  CoUesje,  Maine.  The  New  Hope 
1  RR 1 

Church  is  missed   from  the  record  this  year  and 

two  new  cliurclies  are  added,  Audubon  aud  Exira.  Rev.  A. 
F.  Sliarpnack  is  pastor  of  both.  Audubon  has  17  members 
and  Exira  11.  Some  improvement  over  last  year  is  indi- 
cated in  spiritual  progress.  Atlantic  reports  2  baptized, 
Bowman's  Grove  5,  Council  Bluffs  2.  Exira  4,  and  Harlan 
6.  Rev.  J.  F.  Heilner  has  removed  from  Atlantic  to 
Nebraska,  and  Rev.  J.  H.  Pratt,  late  of  Emerson,  Iowa, 
has  succeeded  him.     Rev.  T.  F.  Thickstun  has  closed  his 

12  years'  pastorate  at  Council  Bluffs,  and  is  succeeded  by 
Rev.  J.  G.  Lemen.  Rev.  W.  A.  Welsher  has  closed  his 
labors  at  Harlan  and  Bowman's  Grove  and  these  churches 
are  pastorless.  Brother  Corbett  of  Wiota  is  the  only 
pastor  that  was  in  the  Association  a  year  ago.  Contributed 
for   the  Convention  $137.65.     Rev,  A.  Jacobs  has   labored 

13  weeks  as  missionarj^  in  this  Association,  and  aid  has 
also  been  extended  by  the  Convention  at  Audubon  and 
Exira.  The  expenditures  have  been,  church  expenses 
$2,679.03  ;  permanent  improvement  $1,590;  denominational 
benevolence  $348.87  ;  grand  total  $4,826.57.  The  new  church- 
es at  Audubon  and  Exira  were  both  organized  within  the 
year,  March  1881. 

Meets  at  Wiota,  A.  F.  Sharpnack  of  Audubon  clerk. 

Rev.  A.  Jacobs  is  preaching  at  Harlan  and  J.  C.  Carter  at 

Bowman's  Grove.     Other  pastors  are  J.H.  Pratt, 

1    Q  O  O  '^  ' 

Atlantic,  Lemen,  Council  Bluffs,  and  A.  F.  Sharp- 
nack Lewis  and  Wiota.  Council  Bluffs  reports  7  baptisms, 
Harlan  7,  Atlantic  2,  and  Bowman's  Grove  and  Wiota  leach. 
Churches  11,  pastors  5,  baptisms  18,  total  membership  522 
Rev.  R.  Corbett,  for  a  number  of  years  pastor  at  Wiota, 
does  not  appear  among  the  pastors.     Audubon  and  Exira 


398  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

are  only  heard  from  by ''statistics  of  last  year."  Church 
expenses  §3,748.89;  permanent  improvement,  §1,061.52;  de- 
nominational benevolence  1615.92 ;  grand  total  15,884.49. 
Value  of  church  property  $23,700;  amount  of  church  debt 
only  §570;  contributed  for  Convention  $135.76.  Missionary 
aid  granted  Atlantic  §100,  Audubon  and  Exira  §175.  Har- 
lan is  credited  with  §828  to  Foreign  Missions. 

The  anniversary  is   at   Lewis,  A.  F.  Sharpnack   clerk. 

The  death  is  recorded,  February  6,  1883,   of  the  beloved 

pastor  of  the  Atlantic  Church,  Rev.  J.  H.  Pratt. 

1  QQQ 

Full  obituary  notes  will  be  given  in  that  depart- 
ment of  these  sketches.  It  may  be  of  interest  to  mention 
here  that  Brother  Pratt  was  pastor  at  Dixon,  Illinois,  at 
the  time,  which  will  be  remembered  by  many,  when  on  a 
baptismal  occasion  the  bridge  on  which  many  spectators 
were  standing  gave  way,  and  a  number  of  persons  were 
killed.  Brother  Pratt  was  administering  the  ordinance, 
and  being  of  a  sensitive  constitution,  it  was  said  that  he 
probably  never  entirely  recovered  from  the  shock  caused 
by  the  accident  and  the  unkind  criticism  of  those  unfriend- 
ly to  the  practice  of  immersion.  Brother  Pratt  was  a  great 
sufferer  during  the  later  years  of  his  life,  but  ceased  not  to 
be  a  faithful  embassador  of  his  suffering  Lord.  Rev.  L. 
H.  Thompson  is  pastor  at  Bowman's  Grove,  and  Rev.  A.  H. 
Post  at  Harlan.  Brother  Post  comes  from  Geneseo,  JN^e- 
braska.  Leman  of  Council  Bluffs,  Post,  Thompson,  and 
A.  F.  Sharpnack,  Wiota,  are  the  only  pastors-.  Only  one 
baptism  reported  in  the  Association.  Present  membership 
479.  The  membership  of  some  of  the  largest  churches  has 
been  declining  for  some  years.  Atlantic,  once  above  a 
hundred,  now  reports  72.  Harlan  and  Council  Bluffs  only 
go  above  a  hundred,  and  neither  of  these  as  large  as  in 
1880.     The  Convention  this  year  received  §146.43.     Brother 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  399 

Pratt  was  receiving  aid  at  Atlantic  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
only  $25  being  drawn  for  this  Convention  year. 

The  annual  meeting  is  at  Harlan.     A.  F.  Sharpnack  is 

stiil  clerk.     The  Big  Grove  Church  disappears  from  the 

records.   Also  of  Exira  the  exit  sliould  have  been 

1  Q  Q/l 

noted  earlier.  Oakland  with  15  members  ap- 
pears for  the  first  time.  Council  Bluffs  reports  22  bap- 
tisms but  no  pastor;  Harlan,  A.  H.  Post,  pastor,  5;  Atlan- 
tic 2,  and  Bowman's  Grove  one.  Rev.  D.  H.  Simpson  is 
pastor  at  Atlantic  and  Rev.  H.  Story  is  preaching  at  New- 
Ion's  Grove,  Oakland  and  Shelby  as  missionary  of  the  Con- 
vention in  the  Council  Bluffs  Association.  Rev.  D.  H. 
Simpson,  of  Atlantic,  L.  H.  Thompson,  still  at  Bowman's 
Grove,  and  A.  H.  Post,  in  second  year  at  Harlan,  with 
Brother  Story  are  all  the  pastors.  Churches,  10;  pastors, 
4;  baptisms,  80 ;  present  membership,  506.  A  gain  of  27 
over  last  year.  In  1885  Atlantic  reports  50  baptized;  Har- 
lan, 25;  Bowman's  Grove,  6;  Newlon's  Grove,  7,  and  Mas- 
sena,  one;  a  total  of  89.  Members  in  the  Association,  446. 
Rev.  M.  D.  Bevan  has  succeeded  D.  H.  Simpson  at  Atlan- 
tic, J.  A.  Kees  is  preaching  at  Bowman's  Grove,  R.  Corbett 
at  Massena,  a  new  organization,  and  A.  F.  Sharpnack  at 
Wiota.     Brother  Sharpnack  is  still  clerk  oi  the  Association. 

In  1886  the  Association  met  at  Atlantic  for  its  Thir- 
teenth Anniversary,  and  the  name  was  changed  to  ^'The 
Atlantic  Baptist  Association.''''  Deacon  Samuel 
Harlan  had  served  the  Association  for  twelve 
years  as  its  Moderator,  but  by  reason  of  "advancing  years 
and  failing  strengtli "  he  was  excused  from  further  service, 
and  S.  B.  J.  Bryant,  of  Atlantic,  was  elected  Moderator, 
and  H.  G.  Curtis,  clerk.  Brother  Bevan,  of  Atlantic,  is  the 
only  pastor  of  a  church  in  the  Association  who  was  re- 
ported as  such   last  year.     Rev.  T.  H.  Sherman  is  preach- 


400 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 


ing  at  Cumberland,  Massena  and  Newlons  Grove  and  J. 
R.  Morris  at  Wiota.  Only  two  baptisms  are  reported. 
Total  membership  414  in  ten  churches.  Deacon  Samuel 
Harlan  died  since  the  meeting  in  1886.  Active  measures 
have  been  taken  that  it  is  confidently  expected  will  secure 
a  better  report  for  1887. 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 


Other  Associations  and  Chukches — Ic»wa  Association. 

Colored— Gterm AN — Swedish — Danish  and 

Norwegian  Churches. 

ESIDES  the  Associations  and  churches  whose 
history  we  have  sketched  in  the  foregoing 
pages,  we  have,  recently  organized,  those 
named  in  the  heading  of  this  chapter.  The 
oldest  of  these  is  "  The  Iowa  Baptld  Associ- 
ation'' of  Colored  Baptists.  In  the  early  years  of  the  Re- 
bellion, colored  Baptists  began  to  gather  in  some  of  our 
southeastern  cities,  and,  rejoicing  that  they  had  found  free- 
dom for  body  and  soul,  sought  fellowship  in  Church  or- 
ganizations where  they  could  enjoy  the  means  of  grace. 
For  a  number  of  years  these  scattered  churches  were  con- 
nected with  our  Associations  of  white  churches,  and  their 
history  is  found  in  that  of  the  Burlington,  Keokuk,  and 
perhaps  other  Associations.  Iowa  Baptists,  in  common 
with  Baptists  of  the  north  generally,  were  much  in  sym- 
pathy with,  and  extended  a  helping  hand  readily  to  every 
effort  of  the  Freedmen  to  elevate  themselves.  The  first 
record  we  find  of  an  Association  of  their  own  among  col- 
ored Baptists  of  Iowa,  is  in  1878.     The  Iowa  Association  in 


402  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

that  year  was  composed  ot  tlie  following  roll  of  churches  : 
Bloomfield,  IS  members;  Burlington  2d,  F.  Gray,  pastor, 
71;  Ft.  Madison  2d,  George  Anderson,  25;  Keokuk  2d,  G. 
M.  Davis,  184;  Keosauqua,  J.  H.  Bandy,  28;  Mt.  Pleasant 
2d,  W.  Washington,  74;  Ottumwa  2d,  21;  Waterloo  2d,  S. 
Shininghouse,  16.  Eight  churches,  6  pastors,  85  baptisms 
during  tli,e  year  and  437  members.  The  Burlington  2d 
church  had  baptized  42,  Keokuk  14  and  Bloomfield  9.  Af- 
ter the  close  of  the  war  and  the  beginning  oZ  the  Kansas 
"Exodus  ''  the  colored  population  did  not  increase  so  rap- 
idly as  before,  if  indeed  it  did  not  decrease,  but  there  is 
nevertheless  work  for  the  "Iowa  Association."  Rev.  G.  M. 
Davis  of  Keokuk  was  the  first  clerk. 

In  1879  the   meeting  was  at    Mt.   Pleasant.     Davis  still 
clerk.     Rev.  J.  H.   Bandy  was  preaching  at  Bloomfield  in 

connection  with  Keosauqua,  and  Peter  Johnson 

1879 

at   Ottumwa.     In  1880  the  anniversary  was  held 

at  Ottumwa.  Waterloo  is  not  reported  while  Des  Moines 
has  a  church  of  13  members,  Wm.  Washington  pastor. 
Baptisms  49,  members  577,  a  gain  of  140;  average  attend- 
ance of  Sabbath  Schools,  293.  Keokuk  entertained  the  As- 
sociation in  1881.  The  statistics  of  a  church  at  Keokuk 
called  the  "Pilgrim's  Rest,"  are  inserted  in  the  Minutes, 
though  it  is  said  that  it  belongs  to  an  Association  in  Mis- 
souri. There  was  reported  from  the  statistics  of  1880,  a 
3d  Burlington  church  with  30  members;  Davenport  3d  28, 
and  Cedar  Mines  35;  also  an  unassociated  church  at  Much- 
akinock  with  75  members.  J.  Carter  is  reported  pastor  at 
Bloomfield,  O.  McClellan  at  Fort  Madison,  and  John  Smith 
at  Mount  Pleasant.  The  place  of  meeting  in  1882  is  not 
known.  H.  Applewhite  of  Davenport  was  clerk.  Mucha- 
kinock  has  become  connected  with  the  body.  Rev.  G.  W. 
Shelton  was  pastor  at  Burlington,  Wm.  Washington  at 
Davenport,  and  Peter  Johnson  at  Muchakinock.     A  church 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  .  403 

also  appears  to  have  been  organized  at  Bedford.  Rev.  J. 
C.  Foster  was  ordained  at  Bedford,  March  'SI,  1882,  and 
was  pastor  of  a  church  of  i)  members  at  Clarinda,  reported 
in  the  Soiitliwestern  Association. 

In  1883  the  Iowa  Asssciation  met  at  Burlington.  Rev. 
C.  R.  Brookins,  clerk.  A  church  is  enrolled  called  Cleve- 
land, Isaac  Johnson,  pastor,  and  Centerville,  J. 
H.  Bundy  (probably  Bandy.)  Rev.  C.  R. 
Brookins  is  pastor  at  Burlington,  C.  Martin  at  Keosauqua, 
A.  W.  Newsome  at  Ottumwa  and  M.  South  at  Waterloo. 
Rev.  G.  M.  Davis,  pastor  at  Keokuk  since  1878,  has  re- 
moved to  Des  Moines.  Brother  Brookins  was  still  clerk  in 
1884.  H.  H.  Williams,  Moderator.  Five  new  churches 
were  added,  viz.:  Bedford,  Carver,  Clarinda,  Excelsior  and 
Marshalltown.  Rev.  R.  Anthony  was  pastor  at  Carver  and 
Excelsior,  and  reports  2()  baptisms  at  each.  Rev.  O.  Mc- 
Clellan  has  been  at  Fort  Madison  feeding  the  llock  for  five 
years.  The  name  has  been  spelled  in  different  ways  but 
we  use  the  last,' which  is  probably  the  correct  spelling.  A. 
Johnson  is  pastor  at  Keokuk,  and  H.  H.  Williams  at 
Muchakinock. 

In  188i5  the  meeting  was  with  the  Olivet  Church,  Des 
Moines.  Rev.  W.  J.  Carter  preached  the  annual  sermon, 
"'and,''  the  clerk  says,  "it  was  a  good  one." 
Rev.  Amos  Johnson  was  elected  Moderator,  C. 
R.  Brookins,  Recording  Secretary,  J.  C.  Gordon,  Corre- 
sponding Secretary,  John  Smith,  Treasurer  and  W.  Wash- 
ington, W.  J.  Carter  and  Jacob  Dulin  members  of  the 
Executive  Board.  We  give  a  somewhat  extended  account 
of  this  meeting  at  Des  Moines  in  1885,  as  it  will  illustrate 
some  of  the  methods  of  these  people  and  afford,  it  may  be, 
some  profitable  lessons  for  us  all.  Two  new  churches 
were  enrolled,  Cedar  Rapids  and  Oskaloosa,  Edward  Wil- 


404  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

son,  of  Rock  Island,  Illinois,  was  reported  pastor  of  the 
first  and  J.  W.  Washington  at  Oskaloosa.  The  total 
membership  of  the  body  is  880.  G.  W.  Clark,  Burlington, 
Jacob  Dulin,  Des  Moines,  and  J.  Walker,  Clarinda,  seem 
to  be  new  pastors.  It  was  recommended  that  each  church 
pay  quarterly,  a  sum  equal  to  5  cents  a  member  or  $5.00 
for  each  hundred  members  into  the  Missionary  Treasury. 
The  Corresponding  Secretary  was  to  "  notify  each  church 
of  the  amount  due  each  quarter,  and  request  that  the  same 
be  sent  to  the  Treasurer  who  shall  forward  a  receipt  to  all 
churches  so  complying.'' 

The  minutes  for  1885  indicate  an  earnest  and  intelligent 
working  body,  accustomed  to  expect  its  members  to  comply 
with  its  rules,  and  having  a  straight  out  way  of  bringing 
delinquents  to  time,  witness  the  following  minute  :  '"Broth- 
ers W.  M.  Wood,  C.  R.  Brookins  and  John  Smith,  absent 
at  Roll  Call,  were  ordered  to  pay  fines,  but  after  some 
statements  by  the  brethren  they  were  released  from  said 
fines."  The  meeting  was  enlivened  by  the  presence  of  Dr. 
T.  E  S.  Scholes,  appointed  missionary  to  Africa,  who 
made  an  able  report  on  education  which  is  printed  in  the 
minutes.  He  defines  education  as  a  drawing  out  or  devel- 
opment, and  in  this  sense  views  it  in  two  forms,  viz.: 
'•Physical  and  mental  education.  The  Scripture  enjoins 
upon  us  as  christians  to  'present  our  bodies  as  living  sacri- 
fices unto  God.'  God  requires  the  best  that  we  are  capable 
of  producing.  The  production  of  a  healthy,  well  developed 
body  is  regulated  by  laws,  some  of  which  we  have  been 
noticing,  as  temperance  and  exercise.  It  is  incumbent 
upon  us  christians  to  give  heed  to  them  if  we  expect  to 
receive  God's  blessing  now,  and  the  'well  done'  hereafter." 
But  passing  to  the  education  of  the  mind,  we  give  one  or 
two  brief  extracts  from  this  part  of  the  report  also.  ''In 
the  study  of  this  branch   we  emerge  from  a  lower  to  a 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  405 

hio:her  plane,  in  as  mucli  as  the  mind  is  of  more  import- 
ance than  tlie  body.  "  ■''  The  mind  scans  the  heavens, 
reads  the  stars,  measures  their  distances,  describes  their 
movements:  it  dissects  the  earth  into  its  componant  parts, 
discovers  its  laws,  presses  them  into  the  service  of  human- 
ity ;  thus  we  have  the  mariner's  compass,  telegraphy,  and 
thousands  of  other  inventions.  Since  the  mind,  therefore, 
is  of  so  much  more  importance  than  the  body,  how  much 
more  anxious  we  sliould  be  for  its  education  and  develop- 
ment. We  know  of  no  more  pitiable  spectacle  than  seeing 
a  well  dressed  lady  or  gentleman,  robed  in  the  costliest 
apparel,  decked  with  richest  ornaments,  possessing  the 
most  fascinating  presence,  but  who  in  behavior  and  con- 
versation exhibits  a  mind  wrapped  in  the  gloom  of 
ignorance.  "  ^-  But  in  turning  our  attention  more 
particularly  to  the  sources  by  which  knowledge  is  imparted, 
we  are  impelled  by  a  sense  of  right  to  place  the  pulpit  in 
the  first  rank.  No  other  educator  is  capable  of  exercising 
greater  power  for  good  or  ill  than  it.  The  more  competent 
it  is,  therefore,  the  more  successfully  will  it  discharge!  its 
mission.  "  "  A  mind  drawn  out  by  knowledge  and  used 
by  the  Holy  Ghost  is  what  our  pulpits  need." 

A  very  lively  interest  in  missions  seems  to  have  marked 
this  anniversary.  In  a  report  on  missions,  special  men- 
tion is  made  of  ''the  teeming  millions  of  Africa  who  hold 
out  their  helpless  hands  to  us  asking  for  the  bread  of  life." 
The  report  says,  "To  these  people,  we  are  designated  of 
God  as  the  chief  actors  in  their  evangelization  and  must 
show  ourselves  equal  to  the  high  calling.  *  "■  We  have 
opened  our  mouths  unto  the  Lord  in  a  way  that  draws 
upon  us  the  expectant  and  hopeful  attention  of  the  world 
as  it  never  was  before.  We  must  arise  to  the  mark  and 
meet  this  expectation.  We  must  not  disappoint  this  hope. 
If  we  fail  now,  we  fail  for  all  time.      Ood  lolll  not  'p^ftnit 


406  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Ills  army  to  he  lield  hacli  hecause  of  tis,  He  will  lead  us  on 
with  it,  accomplisliing  the  great  loork  through  and  by  us, 
or  will  lead  over  us  and  on  to  mctory  imihout  us,  leaving  us 
behind,  monuments  to  after-ages,  of  a  stupid  and  disobedi- 
ent people  wlio  came  not  up  to  tlie  help  of  the  Lord 
against  the  mighty."  We  record  these  words  here  as  worthy 
of  application,  not  only  to  our  colored  brethren,  but  that  all 
of  us  may  study  with  profit  to  our  own  souls,  and  per- 
chance to  the  furthering  of  our  work.  In  1886  we  find  20 
churches,  12  pastors,  46  baptisms  reported  and  789  mem- 
bers. Fort  Dodge  and  Knoxville  Junction  are  new 
churches;  and  J.  F.  Caston,  Henry  Beacon  and  G.  Perry 
are  new  pastors.  Next  after  the  Colored  Baptists  comes  the 
German  Baptist  Association  of  Iowa. 
As  earl}^  as  1856  there  was  a  German  Baptist  church  at 
Muscatine  with  54  members.  Rev.  C.  Schoemaker  pastor. 
German  Baptist  churches  were  organized  from  time  to 
time  at  Davenport  and  other  places,  and  became,  some  of 
them,  connected  with  our  Associations.  But  in  1880  we 
find  the  record  of  a  German  Association,  comprising  eight 
churches,  with  7  pastors  and  69  members.  These  churches 
were  located  at  Burlington,  Davenport,  Elgin,  Ellington, 
Fulton,  Muscatine,  Pleasant  Valley  and  Rock  Falls.  The 
largest  were  Burlington  with  125  members  and  an  average 
Sunday  School  attendance  of  208,  and  Muscatine  with  133 
members  and  a  Sunday  School  average  of  118.  In  1881  the 
value  of  church  property  was  reported  at  $7,300;  contribu- 
tions for  church  expenses  i{^2,965,  and  denominational  be- 
neficence $990.98.  The  average  per  resident  member,  $2.14, 
was  greater  by  more  than  one  dollar  per  member,  than  any 
of  our  American  Associations.  In  1882  eight  German 
churches  report  532  members  and  81  baptisms.  Burling- 
ton reports  49  baptisms  and  has  increased  to  187  members. 
Muscatine  17  baptisms  and  144  members.     The  pastors  are 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  407 

F.  Hoelzen.  Burlington,  C.  H.  Keller,  Darenport,  Wm. 
Scliunke,  Elgin,  H.  Schroeder,  Fulton,  J.  E.  Engleman, 
Pleasant  Valley,  and  Wm.  Fasbing,  Rock  Falls.  In  1883 
there  was  the  addition  of  a  church  at  Steamboat  Rock  with 
85  members;  58  baptisms  were  reported  and  649  men)bers. 
Rev.  T.  J.  Denui  is  pastor  at  Steamboat  Rock  Church  since 
1879,  and  F.  Hoelzen  at  Burlington  since  1877.  The  num- 
ber of  baptisms  in  1884  was  72,  members  745.  In  1885  a 
church  appears  at  Remsen  witli  10  members,  F.  Mueller, 
pastor.  Fewer  changes  take  place  with  the  pastors  of 
these, German  churches  than  among  those  of  our  own  na- 
tionality. We  might  profitably  emulate  tlieir  example  in 
this  respect.  Rex.  H.  HiJzinger  has  been  pastor  at  Musca- 
tine since  1883.  In  188(5  we  find  8  churches.  54  baptisms, 
and  796  members.  Rev.  G.  Koopman  is  pastor  at  Fulton. 
Other  pastors  as  in  former  years. 

Scandinavian  Baptist  Churches  in  Iowa. 
In  1877  Brother  Sunderland,  secretary  of  the  State 
Convention,  made  this  note  of  Scandinavian  Churches. 
There  was  a  church  at  Altamont,  Shelby  countv, 
with  135  members.  Tliere  were  churches  also  at 
AtJantic,  Council  Bluffs,  Benison,  Kiron,  Crawford  county, 
one  in  Boone  county  and  one  in  Allamakee.  In  1878  the 
record  is  more  complete.  Altamont  135  members;  Allama- 
kee 40;  Atlantic  15  ;  Council  BlufTs  40;  Benison  20;  one  in 
Harrison  county,  18;  Hazzard,  Cherokee  county,  27;  Kiron 
130;  New  Sweden  15;  Sioux  City  15;  and  Swede  Bend  38. 
Total,  11  churches  and  439  members.  In  1879,  with  about 
the  same  record,  5  of  the  churches  belong  to  the  Nebraska 
and  Western  Iowa  Scandinavian  Association,  1,  the  Village 
Creek,  to  the  Illinois  and  Eastern  Iowa,  and  5,  viz:  i^tlan- 
ti(^  Harrison  county.  New  Sweden,  Sioux  City  and  Swede 
Bend,  seem  to  be  unassociated.  The  secretary  acknowl- 
edged indebtedness  to  Prof.  J.  A.  Edgren  for  the  above 


408  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

statistics.  The  pastors  in  1879  were  P.  H.  Dam,  Atlantic, 
C.  Jensen,  Council  BluflPs,  O.  Malmsburg,  Hazzard,  J. 
Sjogren,  Village  Creek,  and  A.  Jacobs  Atlantic.  For  the 
next  two  years  but  little  is  reported.  In  1881  there  were 
new  churches  reported  at  Burlington,  Chariton  and  Swea. 
Rev,  L.  Johnson  was  pastor  at  Burlington,  30  members  ; 
Chariton,  C.  R.  Abrahamson,  15;  and  Swea,  Rev.  Persson. 
S.  A.  Sandvall  was  pastor  at  Swede  Bend,  C.  G.  Roos  at 
Denison,  and  J.  Ahlstrom  at  Kiron. 

In  1882  there  were  new  churches  at  Alta,  7  members ; 

Cedar  Falls,  16 ;  Des  Moines  17  ;  Forest  City  60  ;  and  Meri- 

den  23.     Sixteen  baptisms  are  reported  and  648 

1  op  o  ^  ^ 

members.  Rev.  L.  Jacobson  was  pastor  at  Alta- 
mont,  C.  M.  Nelson  at  Burlington,  A.  Lovegren  at  Council 
Bluffs,  S.  Morein  at  Des  Moines  and  Swede  Bend,  E.  Olson 
at  Forest  City,  and  J.  M.  Flodin  at  Village  Creek.  In 
1884  most  of  the  churches  heretofore  placed  under  the 
head  of  Scandinavian  Churches  appear  in  the 

Swedish  Baptist  Association. 

In  this  Association  50  baptisms  are  reported  and  648 
members.  Rev.  H.  A.  Reichenbach  is  pastor  at  Council 
Bluffs,  P.  Stranberg  at  Swea,  and  C.  Broms  at  Swede  Bend. 
In  1885  the  Swedish  Association  has  grown  to  17  churches, 
11  pastors,  58  baptisms  during  the  year,  and  574  members. 
In  1886  the 

Danish  and  Norwegian   Association 

Appears  with  7  churches,  46.  baptisms,  3  pastors  and  369 
members.  The  churches  are  Alta,  Atlantic,  Altamont, 
Cedar  Falls,  Gilmore,  Newell,  and  Pine  Creek.  Pastors 
C.  Carlson,  P.  Jentoft,  and  Thomas  Christiansen.  For 
several  years  the  State  Convention  and  Home  Mission 
Society  have  given  special  attention  and  liberal  aid  to  this 
class  of  our  citizens  in  the  work  of  evangelization. 


CHAPTER    XLIY 


Fragments,  Incidents  and  Anecdotes— Dr.  J.  A.  Nash 

A(4AiN— Bai'tisms   at   Grinnex^l — Sandyville. 

Crossing  a  River— Having  a   Picture 

Taken — Live  for   Eternity. 


AVING  ^one  tlirough  with  all  the  Associ- 
ations we  will  devote  the  present  chapter 
to  gathering  up  a  few  of  the  crumbs  that 
have  fallen  from  the  table  as  we  have 
dished  out  the  previous  Sketches.  A 
volume  might  be  filled  with  fragments,  incidents,  anecdotes 
and  reminiscences  that  would  be  good  reading,  but  space 
will  only  admit  of  the  introduction  of  a  few  specimens. 
Rev.  J.  A.  Nash,  D.  D.,  in  connection  with  the  matter 
found  in  chapter  21  of  this  volume,  gave  the  following  un- 
der the  head  of 

Incidentals. 

Incident  No.  1. — Grinnell  cannot  be  ranked  among  the 
towns  of  apostolic  note,  as  always  having  the  "Polla  Thu- 
data'' — either  the  many  or  much  waters.  It  is  emphatically 
a  town  without  "rivers  or  streams,  ''yet  at  the  organization 
of  the  church  several  candidates  were  baptized  there,  with- 
out basin  or  bowl  or  artificial  Baptistery,  and  conspicu- 
ously in  the  absence  of  sprinkling  or  pouring. 


410  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Out  on  the  then  commons  just  south  of  the  present  col- 
lege campus  was  a  small  depression  through  which  the 
water  drained  off  during  excessive  rains.  It  was  Spring- 
and  the  rains  had  been  heavy  and  protracted.  Across  this 
depression  the  brethren  constructed  a  dyke  which  raised 
the  water  to  any  desired  depth — ample  for  the  immersion 
of  3,000  or  more.  The  administrator  has  often  wondered  if 
future  visitors  to  this  town  could  not  demonstrate  to  the 
most  skeptical  that  the  Baptists  of  •that  day  could  not,  and 
therefore  did  not  practice  immersion,  for  there  is  no  much 
nor  many  traces  of  running  water  in  the  town,  which  dem- 
onstrations would  be  just  as  conclusive  as  those  adduced 
to  show  from  the  absence  of  water  at  certain  places  and 
seasons,  that  the  apostles  and  apostolic  christians  did  not, 
and  could  not  if  they  would  practice  immersion. 

Incident  No.  2. — The  pastor  from  Des  Moines  by  ar- 
rangement was  enroute  for  Sandyville  to  complete  the 
organization  of  the  church  there  which  had  previously 
been  begun.  He  took  his  journey  on  foot,  20  miles;  on  the 
way  he  picked  up  a  man  who  attempted  to  preach  some- 
times who  was  decidedly  of  the  anti-mission  stripe.  The 
first  da}'  we  reached  Hartford,  15  miles  and  staid  all  night. 
The  April  rains  had  been  heavy,  and  it  cleared  off  cold. 
The  ground  was  full  of  water  and  the  streams  swollen. 
We  came  to  the  North  River  on  the  way,  some  5  miles 
from  the  place  of  the  meeting.  The  river  was  high  and 
the  water  cold.  But  one  house  was  near  and  that  was  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  stream.  Several  men  were  oat  at 
work  in  sight,  and  we  shouted  with  all  our  powers  for 
them  to  come  with  their  skiff  and  set  us  over.  But  they 
paid  not  the  slightest  attention  to  our  call.  The  meeting 
was  to  be  at  11  a.  m.  and  we  were  miles  away.  What 
could  be  done  ?  The  pastor  knew  very  well  that  while  the 
friends  who  were  to  go  into  the  new  church  were  mission- 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  411 

ary  Baptists,  they  were  from  the  south  and  west,  tliat  there 
were  anti-missioa  Baptists  who  were  liable  to  put  in  an  ap- 
pearance, and  who  would  be  only  too  glad  to  slip  in  their 
articles  of  faith  and  get  them  adopted  by  the  new  church 
and  then  claim  it  and  add  it  to  their  Association,  and  then 
all  the  work  done  on  that  field,  past  and  prospective, 
would  come  to  naught,  or  be  worse  than  thrown  away. 
He  finally  told  his  companion  that  he  would  attempt  to 
ford  the  river.  He  relied  that  it  was  impossible  and 
dahgerous.  The  current  was  very  rapid.  He  divested 
liimself  of  shoes,  stockings,  coat,  vest,  etc.,  got  a  long  pole 
with  which  to  brace  and  steady  himself,  and  cautiously 
ventured  in.  Having  passed  the  deepest  or  most  danger- 
ous point  he  returned,  gathered  up  his  clothes  and  carried 
them  over,  dressed  himself  and  took  the  skiif  and  went 
back  for  his  companion,  who  thus  went  over  dry  shod. 
Passing  travelers  told  us  afterward  that  the  river  ran  into 
their  buggies.  We  reached  the  meeting  on  time,  which 
met  in  a  new  cabin  where  never  fire  had  been  made.  The 
wet  one  shivered  with  the  cold  through  the  exercises  of 
perfecting  the  organization  and  the  preaching  of  a  sermon, 
and  about  3  p.  m.  got  to  a  good  fire  and  to  some  dinner.  No 
further  inconvenience  was  suffered,  the  church  was  satis- 
factoril}^  organized.  But  we  did  not  get  away  without  an 
additional  episode.  We  had  made  all  arrangements  for 
public  recognition  services  on  Lord's  Day.  Early  in  the 
morning  there  came  a  call  from  a  Campbellite  minister, 
who  requested  the  privilege  of  preaching  the  morning  ser- 
mon. He  was  told  that  it  would  not  be  convenient,  as  it  was  a 
special  service,  the  parte  of  which  had  already  been  assigned. 
But  he  still  pressed  the  matter,  saying  he  wanted  to  instruct 
our  ministers  in  Bible  truth.  It  was  with  great  difficulty  that 
he  could  be  choked  off',  so  ready  was  he  to  act  as  the  theo- 
logical gladiator  of  his  creedless  church.     Finding  the  re- 


412  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

quest  unavailing  he  turned  to  general  talk  in  a  private 
way.  One  of  the  ministers  said,  one  of  the  great  objections 
to  your  church  is  that  I  never  know  from  the  fact  of  a  per- 
son joining  your  church,  wliat  lie  helleoes,  excepting  that 
Baptism  is  immersion  on  profession  of  faith.  He  replied, 
I  think  I  know  what  a  man  believes  when  I  hear  that  he 
has  joined  our  church.  Well  let  us  inquire  was  the  reply. 
Suppose  I,  a  stranger,  come  to  you  and  ask  for  admission 
into  your  church,  what  do  you  say  to  me?  I  ask  you  if 
you  believe  in  Christ.  I  reply,  I  do.  A¥hat  then^  I  bap- 
tize you.  Am  I  then  a  member  of  your  church?  Yes. 
Very  well.  Now  do  you  know  whether  I  believe  that 
Christ  was  divine  or  only  a  mere  man?  No.  Do  you* 
know  whether  I  believe  that  Christ's  death  atones  for 
sin  and  saves  therefrom,  or  that  it  has  no  more  saving 
power  than  the  death  and  blood  of  a  dog?  No.  Do  you 
know  whether  I  believe  in  the  future  endless  punish- 
ment of  the  wicked,  or  that  all  will  be  saved,  irrespective 
of  character  or  actions  in  this  life,  or  whether  I  believe 
in  a  final  general  judgment.  No.  Very  well,  you  are  in 
my  state  of  mind.  I  know  nothing  of  the  man's  views  or 
moral  standing  before  God,  by  knowing  that  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  your  creedless  church.  And  so  he  left  us  for  a 
season. 

Incident  No.  3. — A  lady,  a  former  attendant  on  the 
Baptist  congregation  in  Des  Moines,  had  removed  to,  and 
was  residing  in  Adel.  She  had  indulged  a  hope  and  de- 
sired to  be  baptized.  A  company  from  the  Des  Moines 
church  with  the  pastor  went  up  to  hold  service  to  receive 
her  for  baptism  and  administer  the  ordinance  on  Lord's 
Day.  After  morning  service  and  the  baptism,  the  minister 
was  cordially  invited  to  dinner  in  a  Pedobapiist  family. 
At  table  the  lady  remarked,  I  like  your  baptism,  but  I  do 
not  like  your  indting  up  bars  at  the  Lord's  table.     The 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  413 

minister  answered  her:  "Suppose  this  were  the  day  of  a 
great  circus,  and  thousands  of  persons  from  all  the  regions 
around  were  assembled,  of  various  nationalities,  different 
habits  of  life,  of  dress,  and  with  all  shades  of  moral  char- 
acter. Just  as  you  stepped  into  the  parlor  to  invite  me  to 
dinner,  a  surging  mass  of  this  motley  crowd  come  surging 
by.  I  run  to  the  door  and  shout.  Ho !  all  of  you  come  in 
to  dinner.  Jerry,  John,  Tom  and  Bill,  Jerusha,  Jane,  Mol- 
ly and  Sally  Ann,  all  of  you,  come  right  in  with  hearty 
welcome.  I  don't  set  up  any  hars  at  this  good  sister's  tahle^ 
and  so  they  surge  in  in  crowds."  He  then  asked  his  hostess: 
"What  would  you  think  of  me^"  She  replied  with  an  unc- 
tion: "I  should  think  you  were  assuming  rights  which  I  had 
never  delegated  to  you,  when  you  invited  to  my  table  those 
whom  I  never  invited  nor  wanted."  "Precisely  so,  oiul  he- 
cause  it  is  the  Lord's  t(d>le,  and  not  ours,  we,  if  invited,  go, 
leaving  others  unrestricted  to  do  as  they  deem  best.  We 
neither  jnctting  up  nor  taMnq  doton  bars  at  a  table  which 
belongs  exclusively  to  God  and  not  to  us."  Relating  the 
above  incident  to  a  clerical  friend  who  was  preparing  a 
treatise  on  the  Lord's  Supper,  he  inserted  it  with  due  cred- 
it, but  represented  the  minister  as  actually  going  to  the 
door  and  giving  the  invitation,  which  would  certainly  have 
been  carrying  a  joke  too  far.  However  there  is  a  great 
difference  between  an  actual  and  a  suppositional  fact. 

Incident  No.  4. — The  same  minister  in  another  town 
was,  after  sermon,  invited  to  dinner  at  a  Pedo-Baptist 
house  The  lady,  with  a  perceptible  asperity  of  emphasis, 
asked  Mr.  Blank,  don'tyoii  believe  that  any  person  can  go  to 
Heaven  unless  they  are  diiyped,f  He,  assuming  an  air  of 
great  astonishment,  replied,  That  is  a  singular  questionto 
asTc  a  Baptist ^  If  you  had  asked  those  who  sprinkle  or 
baptize  unconscious  babies  or  unconscious  adults  in  sick- 
ness if  they  do  not  believe  that  none  can  be  saved,  even 


414  '  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

infants  unless  they  are  baptized,  tliere  would  be  some 
pertinency.  But  to  aslv  a  Baptid,  a  people  who  for  18 
centuries  have  never  immersed  a  person  and  never  will 
unle-'is  they  x>Tofess  to  he  saved  already,  is  indeed  a  very 
surprising  question. 

One  or  two  incidents  from  our  own  memory  must  serve 
to  complete  the  chapter.  In  1867,  as  mentioned  elsewhere, 
Rev.  Dr.  Eugenio  Kincaid,  the  "hero  missionary"  who 
had  then  spent  37  years  in  India,  was  visiting  some  of  the 
Associations  in  Iowa  and  stirring  the  hearts  of  our  people 
in  the  missionary  cause.  Going  in  compan)^  from  Indian- 
ola  up  into  Hardin  county  to  the  Iowa  Valley  Associa- 
tion, we  staid  over  night  at  Newton,  where  Rev.  J.  Y. 
Aitchison,  D.  D.,  was  pastor.  Brother  Aitchison  enter- 
tained the  missionary  in  his  hospitable  way.  In  the 
morning  he  was  very  anxious  for  Brother  Kincaid's  photo- 
graph. There  was  a  French  artist  in  the  town  that  made 
very  good  pictures.  Wouldn't  the  good  Doctor  go  round 
and  sit  for  his  negatived  The  doctor  was  very  reluctant, 
had  been  decoyed  into  a  photograph  gallery  but  once  for 
many  years,  and  that  was  in  Scotland.  Finally,  however, 
he  gave  his  consent.  He  was  introducted  to  the  polite 
Frenchman  in  his  little  gallery.  The  distinguished  mis- 
sionary was,  of  course,  an  unusual  subject  in  the  remote 
Iowa  town.  The  artist  was  suavity  and  politeness  itself. 
Adjusting  his  instruments  and  seating  the  missionary 
ready  for  action,  he  turned  to  him  with  the  blandest  smile: 
"Now  doctor  how  much  of  your  picture  do  you  wish  to 
show^'  With  a  deprecating  wave  of  both  hands,  but  with 
equal  politeness  and  humility  came  the  answer;  ''Oil!  just 
as  little  as  possible."^  The  look  of  surprise  on  the  face  of 
the  artist,  and  the  unfeigned  modesty  of  the  really  great 
man  before  him,  were  a  subject  for  a  picture  that  the 
reader's  imagination  will  haive  to  paint. 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  415 

Live  for  Eternity.  In  1869  Rev.  O.  T.  Conger  was 
pastor  of  the  Winterset  Baptist  Church,  and  reported  140 
baptized  and  397  members.  A  year  or  two  before,  and 
when  the  churcli  was  without  a  pastor,  we  remember  to 
have  heard  a  member  give  his  views  with  great  distinctness 
as  to  what  they  wanted  a  pastor  to  do.  The  whole  county 
was  missionary  ground.  It  was  all  very  nice  to  have  a 
pastor  preach  to  them  twice  a  day  and  feed  them  in  the 
town,  etc.  But  what  he  wanted  was  a  vigorous  man,  and 
they  would  support  him,  and  let  him  preach  perhaps  Sun- 
day morning  in  the  church  and  then  go  out  in  the  school 
houses  and  labor  anywhere  in  the  county  and  bring  the 
people  to  Christ.  Brother  Conger  became  their  pastor  and 
entered  with  great  zeal  and  spirit  into  the  idea.  He  held 
meetings  in  six  or  eight  school  houses  if  not  more,  and 
the  result  was  as  stated  above— 140  baptisms,  and  50  the 
year  before. 

At  the  close  of  the  revival  in  the  spring  of  1869  the 
General  Missionary  was  invited  to  spend  a  week  with  the 
pastor  in  interesting  the  young  converts  in  the  missionary 
work,  preaching  Sunday  morning  at  the  church,  then  going 
the  rounds  of  the  school  houses,  visiting  through  the  day 
and  preaching  at  night,  and  taking  a  collection  for  the 
Convention.  The  pastor  would  open  the  meeting  in  about 
these  words:  " Brethren,  we  are  going  the  Grand  Rounds 
this  week.  As  in  military  life  they  have  what  they  call 
the  grand  round ;  they  have  a  watchword,  and  I  have 
thought  it  would  be  a  good  thing  for  us  to  have  a  watch- 
word too.  Our  watchword  is  '  Live  for  Eternity.''''''  We 
have  seldom  heard  more  inspiring  exhortations,  nor  with 
better  effect.  Most  of  the  converts  were  from  a  class  that 
had  hardly  heard  the  gospel  in  their  past  lives,  raw  re- 
cruits indeed,  but  an  impression  was  made  in  these  rural 
neighborhoods  that  must  have  led  some  to  desire  to  live 


416 


HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES. 


for  eternity.  A  number  of  churchea  afterward  sprung  up 
in  these  neighborlioods.  How  many  of  the  members  were 
converted  in  the  revival  of  18(58-9  we  do  not  know. 


CHAPTER  XLV. 


Iowa    Baptist    State   Convention  —  Sistory    resumed 
FROM    1869 — Official   Missionary   and   Fi- 
nancial Record — 1859  to  1886. 


ARLIER  chapters  gave  in  a  summary  way,  the 
history  of  the  Iowa  Baptist  State  Convention 
down  to  1869.  Recognition  of  its  work  will 
be  found  on  many  pages  of  the  Associational 
Sketches,  but  a  fuller  notice  of  its  work  and 
workers  is  required  and  will  be  the  subject  of  the  present 
chapter.  Before  taking  up  the  thread  of  Convention  his- 
tory at  1869,  however,  we  must  supply  some  omissions  in 
the  earlier  history.  On  page  63  will  be  found  mention  of 
the  years  in  which  Rev.  J.  F.  Childs  served  as  Secretary, 
and  the  names  of  those  who  were  presiding  ofhcers  for 
the  same  period.  We  here  supply  the  names  of  those 
who  served  in  these  capacities  from  the  organization  in  1842 
to  1859,  the  year  that  Brother  Childs  first  became  Secretar}^ 
The  presidents  were  Burton  Carpenter,  Hezekiah  Johnson, 
Ezra  Fisher,  Hiram  Burnett,  B.  F.  Brabrook,  J.  T.  Fales, 
Dexter  P.  Smith,  Elihu  Gunn,  E  M.  Miles,  Charles  Thomp- 
son, A.  G.  Eberliart,  and  I.  Butterfield;  H.  Burnett  in  1845 
and  again  in  1854;  B.  F.  Brabrook  in  1846  and  in  1849;  J. 
T.  Fales  in  '47  and  again  in  '51;  D.  P.  Smith  in  '48  and  in 


418  HISTOKICAL   SKETCHES 

50,  and  Charles  Thompson  in  1855  and  '56.  The  others, 
one  year  each  in  the  order  named.  The  secretaries  in  these 
earlier  years  were  W.  B.  Morey,  Charles  E.  Brown  in  1843 
and  again  in  '45,  C.  CI.  Blood,  J.  T.  Fales,  Dexter  P.  Smith, 
T.  H.  Archibald  1848  and  '49,  S.  B.  Johnson  1850  and  '51, 
I.  C.  Curtis,  Wm.  H.  Turton,  H.  R.  Wilbur,  Elihu  Gunn 
1855  and  '56,  and  T.  S.  Griffith  the  next  two  years.  As 
these  lists  are  published  annually  in  the  Convention  min- 
utes it  is  not  necessary  to  continue  them.  But  we  will 
sketch  briefly  the  Missionary  work  of  the  Convention  from 
where  we  left  ofl"  in  1869.  In  the  fall  of  that  year,  Rev.  J. 
Edminster  was  appointed  Superintendent  of  Missions,  and 
entered  upon  his  work  with  a  debt  of  $1,400.  It  was  a 
time  of  great  difficulty;  the  setting  in  of  a  strong  reaction 
from  a  period  of  inflation,  or  success  overdone.  Nineteen 
missionaries  were  employed  in  1870,  with  the  Superintend- 
ent, and  about  $4,000  in  all  raised,  but  in  spite  of  hard 
work  and  fewer  missionaries,  the  year  closed  with  an  in- 
debtedness increased  to  $1,900.  A  paid  agency  was  dis- 
pensed with  the  next  3'ear  and  volunteer  agency  work 
depended  upon.  Only  twelve  missionaries  were  appointed 
to  serve  in  1871,  and  the  whole  amount  raised  was  a  little 
less  than  $3,000.  The  debt  was  reduced  by  more  than 
$1,300,  leaving  $640  at  the  end  of  this  year.  This  debt  was 
supposed  to  be  provided  for  at  the  meeting  at  Waterloo  in 
October,  1871;  but  about  one-fourth  of  the  pledges  were 
yet  unpaid  at  the  next  annual  .meeting. 

Through  1872  the  same  general  plan  was  pursued.  No 
paid  agent  was  employed.  Twenty  missionaries  were  em- 
ployed and  the  amount  raised  nearly  the  same  as  last  year, 
being,  from  all  sources,  including  collections  at  the  annual 
meeting  for  various  benevolent  objects,  $2,932.72.  The 
debt  in  October,  1872,  was  also  nearly  the  same  as  a  year 
earlier,  being  $624.52.     In  October  1872  Rev.  T.  F.  Thick- 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  419 

stun  succeeded  Brother  Childs  as  secretary,  entering,  at 
the  middle  of  the  year  1873  upon  tlie  work  of  General 
Missionary  also.  Twentj^  missionaries  were  under  ap- 
pointment, and  §2,691.71  raised,  and  the  year  closed  with  a 
deficit  of  $1,416.07.  Brother  Thickstun  continued  to  serve 
as  secretar}^  till  1874,  and  devoted  all  his  time  for  the  first 
three  months;  §3,246.03  were  received,  12  missionaries  sus- 
tained, and  the  debt  reduced  to  $401.92.  Rev,  D.  N.  Mason 
was  elected  secretary  in  1874  and  re-elected  the  next  two 
years.  For  the  year  ending  October,  1875,  no  financial- 
agent  was  employed.  Seventeen  missionaries  were  em- 
ployed for  all  or  part  of  tlie  year,  and  §3,018.49  received, 
including  over  §600  received  at  the  annual  meeting.  The 
debt  seems  to  have  been  all  paid  and  a  surplus  of  several 
hundred  dollars  left  over.  Rev.  Wm.  Wilder  was  ap- 
pointed Superiutedent  of  Missions  at  the  annual  meeting 
in  1875,  and  entered  upon  his  work  January  1,  1876. 
Eleven  missionaries  were  commissioned  during  the  year, 
but  financial  stringency  increased  and  the  whole  amount 
raised  for  the  year,  including  balance,  was  a  little  over 
$2,000,  and  a  debt  again  appeared  at  tlie  end  of  the  year 
of  §2,360.55. 

For  the  following  year,  closing  October  1877,  no  mis- 
sionaries were  appointed  and  no  missionary  work  done 
except  in  the  Sundaj^  school  department.  All  the  money 
collected,  except  for  printing  minutes  and  other  incidental 
expenses  and  secretary's  work,  was  applied  to  the  debt. 
Brother  Mason  continued  to  serve  as  secretary  until  Octo- 
ber 1877.  when  Rev.  James  Sunderland  was  elected 
Missionary  Secretary.  Brother  Mason,  in  the  annual  report 
of  the  Board,  said  :  "With  sorrow  and  a  sense  of  defeat  we 
record  that  no  missionary  work  has  been  done  the  past 
year,  except  in  the  Sunday  school  department.  Stopping 
our  ears  to  all  cries  for  help,  we  have  vainly  applied  our- 


420  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

selves  to  the  task  of  paying  off  the  debt  brought  over  from 
last  year.  Leaving  our  legitimate  work,  we  have  made 
ourselves  into  a  collecting  agency.  We  have  shut  up  our 
shops,  closed  the  blinds  and  locked  the  doors  till  we  should 
be  able  to  pay  our  debts."  The  policy  was  one  occasionally 
resorted  to  by  churches  under  similar  circumstances,  but 
rarely,  if  ever,  with  favorable  results.  As  well  go  in  debt 
for  seed  and  means  to  sow  your  fields  and  then  turn  them 
over  to  weeds  until  you  have  found  some  way  of  paying 
the  debt  incurred.  Many  brethren  were  dissatisfied  from 
the  beginning  of  the  year,  but  the  Board  were  bound  to 
the  course  by  a  majority  vote  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Convention,  a.nd  did  not  find  how  they  "might  depart 
from  it  and  carry  out  the  wishes  of  the  majoiity.''  At  the 
end  of  the  year  however  they  were  ready  to  recommend 
and  the  Convention  to  adopt  the  following:  "We  recom- 
mend, therefore,  that  with  faith  in  God  and  renewed 
confidence  in  our  Baptist  churches,  the  Convention  take 
up  again  her  proper  work,  reduce  her  running  expenses  to 
the  lowest  sum  which  will  procure  efficient  service,  and 
make  moderate  appropriations  to  the  most  needy,  deserv- 
ing and  hopeful  fields  "  "'  '"  and  that,  as  heretofore, 
the  Convention  shall  aim  at  permanent  results."  The  debt 
remaining  uncancelled  was  $1,376.48,  with  $75. 11  in  the 
treasury.  A  brother  was  elected  General  Missionary  and 
Financial  Agent,  but  did  not  see  the  way  clear  to  accept, 
nor  was  the  "  Board  able  to  find  any  other  man  deemed 
suitable  for  the  position,"  hence  another  year  passed  with- 
out any  paid  agency  in  the  field.  Brother  Sunderland 
acting  as  Missionary  Secretary  and  doing  wliat  lie  could, 
with  the  aid  of  Cooperative  Committees,  towards  the 
raising  of  funds.  Ten  missionaries  were  employed,  a  little 
over  $3,100  raised,  a  gain  of  $850.66  over  the  previous  year, 
the  debt  all  paid,  and  $66.31  left  in   the  treasury.     The 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS. 

amount  necessary  to  pay  off  tlie  debt  liad  been  pledged  at 
the  meeting  in  1877.  Some  of  the  pledges  remained  un- 
paid, and  of  course  many  of  them  took  the  place  of  regular 
contributions  for  the  current  year. 

About  this  time,  1878,  the  Home  Mission  Society, 
always  a  cherishing  mother  to  our  Baptist  cause  in  Iowa, 
began  to  come  forward  with  new  assurances  of  sympathy 
and  help  in  time  of  need.  Of  this  more  especial  mention 
will  be  made  in  our  chapter  on  the  Home  Mission  Societies 
work  among  Iowa  Baptists.  It  may  be  said  here,  that  un- 
der the  wise  leadership  of  Brother  Sunderland,  who  was 
continued  through  the  year  1878  and  1879,  a  plan  of  or 
ganic  cooperation  lolth  the  Home  Mission  Society  was 
full}^  discussed  by  our  Board,  proposed  to  the  Society ^i 
substantially  adopted  by  them,  and  entered  upon  in  1879, 
which  remains  in  force  .to  the  present  time.  During  the 
year  ending  October,1879,  nineteen  missionaries  were  under 
appointment  for  the  whole  or  a  part  of  the  time,  and 
$2,311.69  received  into  the  treasury.  In  January,  1880, 
the  Missionary  Secretary,  Rev.  James  Sunderland,  was 
elected  General  Missionary  and  began  his  labor  in  March 
following.  The  amount  received  from  within  the  State  up 
to  October,  1880,  was  $8,427.63.  The  amount  received  from 
the  Home  Mission  Society,  according  to  the  plan  of  cooper- 
ation which  had  been  adopted,  was  $1,620.42,  making  for 
the  work  in  the  State,  $5,048.05.  The  amount  raised  in 
the  State  was  a  gain  of  $1,115.94  over  the  previous  year, 
Brother  Sunderland  continued  to  fill  the  position  of  Mis- 
sionary Secretary  and  General  Missionary  until  May 
the  12th,  1882,  when  on  account  of  continued  ill  health 
he  was  obliged  to  close  his  labors,  and  the  Board  "very 
reluctantly"  accepted  his  resignation.  For  the  year 
closing  October,  1880,  the  first  year  of  the  "coopera- 
tion," thirty  missionaries  were  appointed,  eight  of  whom 


422  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

were  serving  under  appointment  of  the  Home  Mission 
Society  before,  and  the  amounts  raised  and  expended  as 
stated  above.  For  the  year  ending  October,  1881,  fifty-one 
missionaries  in  all  were  under  appointment,  serving  sixty- 
seven  churches,  an  average  of  thirty-one  for  the  entire 
3^ear.  The  receipts  for  the  year  were  $4,970.99,  an  increase 
of  over  11,500  from  the  previous  year. 

Upon  the  retirement  of  Brother  Sunderland,  in  the 
spring  of  1882,  Rev.  D.  D.  Proper  was  appointed  Mission- 
ary Secretary  and  General  Missionary,  and  entered  upon 
the  work  May  1st.  Brother  Proper  continued  in  this  posi- 
tion, prosecuting  the  work  with  very  great  energy  and 
endurance  until  earlv  in  1886,  when  he  resigned  and  soon 
afterwards  took  a  similar  position  in  Kansas,  which  he 
continues  to  fill.  Rev.  James  Sunderland,  with  restored 
health,  has  been  for  two  or  three  years  Superintendent  of 
Missions  in  Minnesota.  Thus  has  Iowa  trained  workers 
for  her  neighboring  States. 

In  1882,  $3,711.77  were  reported  for  State  Missions,  and 
56  commissions  issued  to  missionaries  for  the  whole  or 
parts  of  the  year.  The  year  closed  with  a  balance  in  the 
treasury  of  over  a.  thousand  dollars  to  begin  the  next  year's 
work.  The  receipts  for  the  year  ending  October  1883,  were 
$5,230.55,  and  the  number  of  missionaries  employed  48. 
For  1884,  $4,420.40  and  40  missionaries;  1885,  $5,308.44  and 
51  missionaries.  Since  1870  the  following  brethren  have 
presided  over  the  deliberations  of  the  Convention  at  its 
Anniversaries,  and  at  many  of  its  Board  meetings:  F.  Mott 
four  years,  T.  W.  Newman  three  years,  S.  Washington 
one,  J.  C.  Hurd  two,  J.  J.  Powell  three  j-ears,  M.  T.  V. 
Bowman  two,  and  J.  W.  Burdette  two  years.  It  costs  con- 
siderable of  money  as  well  as  valuable  time  in  the  course 
of  the  year   to  serve  the  Convention  faithfully  as  these 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  428 

brethren  have  done  in  this  capacity.  Besides  that,  those 
who  bend  their  necks  to  bear  the  onerous  yoke  of  office, 
invariably  become  liberal  contributors  to  the  general  fund. 
All  honor  to  those  who  have  the  ability  and  the  willing-- 
uess  to  thus  serve  their  generation  in  the  Lord  !  Those  also 
who  have  taken  care  of  the  funds,  kept  the  accounts,  and 
with  great  ability  and  care  watched  over  the  eleemosyn- 
ary assets  of  our  missionary  organizations  are  worthy  of 
mention  in  our  permanent  records.  The  brethren  who 
have  served  as  the  treasurers  of  the  Convention  since,  in 
1856,  it  began  to  do  independent  Missionary  work,  have 
been,  D.  W.  Ford  three  years,  1856  and  1858;  Robert  Irvin, 
ten  years,  1859  and  1868;  J.  O.  Wilson  1869;  Dr.  H.  C. 
Huntsman  two  years,  1870  and  '71;  E.  T.  Cressy,  1872:  H. 
H.  Smith  two  years,  1873  and  '74;  G.  W.  Carter,  M.  D., 
four  3'ears,  1875  and  '78;  Hon.  N.  Littler,  six  years,  1879 
and  1884;  and  E.  E.  Lewis  1885  and  '86.  In  1886,  after  the 
withdrawal  of  Rev.  D.  D.  Proper,  Rev.  C.  E.  Higgins  was 
appointed  Missionarj^  Secretary  and  General  Mission aiy, 
Avhich  position  he  continues  to  fill.  There  are  other  depart- 
ments of  Convention  work,  as  the  Sunday  School  depart- 
ment. Woman's  Work  in  Missions,  etc.,  that  require  notice, 
but  as  these  are,  more  especially  in  their  present  form,  of 
recent  date,  we  defer  them  till  after  we  have  introduced 
the  work  of  Ministerial  Education  and  Home  and  Foreign 
Missions. 

By  way  of  closing  the  present  chapter,  and  apropos  of 
the  ups  and  downs,  the  advance  movements  and  then 
again  the  reactions  that  come  in  the  financial  support 
given  to  our  missionary  organizations,  we  may  introduce 
the  following,  presented  in  a  report  by  Rev.  Elihu  Gunn 
at  one  of  our  oldest  associations  at  a  time  when  one  of 
tliese  crises  had  come  in  missionary  finances:  It  was  in 
1856  when  it  seems  our  Home  and  Foreign  Mission  societies 


424 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 


were  both  languishing  and  heavily  burdened  with  debt. 
The  Des  Moines  Association  met  at  Glasgow,  Iowa. 
Brother  Gunn  presented  a  report  in  which  he  said,  "That 
just  at  this  moment,  when  both  in  the  Foreign  and  in 
the  Home  field  God  is  giving  most  unmistakable  tokens 
of  his  approval  in  the  unexampled  prosperity  and  suc^cess 
which  attend  our  efforts,  that  they  should  be  paralyzed 
by  any  cause  is  to  be  regarded  as  a  great  calamity.  ""'  * 
That  in  a  time  of  unprecedented  commercial  and  financial 
prosperity  in  all  parts  of  our  country,  and  when,  of  course, 
our  ability  as  a  denomination  is  rapidly  increasing,  our 
denominational  respect,  not  to  speak  of  motives  infinitely 
higher  and  more  solemn,  should  allow  us  to  see  our  Home 
and  Foreign  Missionary  societies  both  languishing,  and 
our  Missionaries  actually  suffering,  is  liumiliating  indeed. 
But  it  seems  to  be  true  that  our  worldliness  and  pride 
must  have  an  occasional  humbling  in  order  that  we  make 
the  necessary  sacrifices  to  carry  out  the  christian  faith. 
Our  Master  '■^humbled  himself .^^ 


<l©;i 


-.SM.  ^    .^^^.?^'- 


.*■■:. 


REV.  C.  E.  HIGGINS. 


CHAPTER  XLYI. 

Education  for  tiip:  Minister  —Iowa  Baptist  Union  for 
Ministerial  Education— Sketch  by  Dex- 
ter  P.  Smith,  D.  D.,  12  Years 
Secretary. 


AFTISTS  of  Iowa  have  no  sympathy  with  the 
idea  of  a  merely  man  made  ministry.  They 
take  no  stock  in  the  position  held  by  some 
other  denominations  that  a  man  should  not 
in  any  case  be  commissioned  to  preach  the 
gospel,  and  ordained  to  the  full  work  of  the  ministry  who 
has  not  gone  through  a  complete  college  and  seminary 
curriculum.  Many  bright  lights  in  the  denomination,  not 
to  speak  of  the  still  greater  number  who  have  served  God 
and  their  generation  in  the  humbler  spheres,  yet  as  bishops 
and  pastors,  have  been  men  to  whom  even  a  limited  course 
of  study  in  our  higher  institutions  of  learning  was  impos- 
sible. We  have  not  yet  reached  the  time  when  men  of 
strong  sense  and  humble  grace,  whose  age  or  circumstances 
preclude  the  possibility  of  a  full  course  of  collegiate  and 
theological  study,  may  not  avail  themselves  of  the  erudi- 
tion of  others,  surround  themselves  with  trustworthy 
guides,  in  the  form  of  safe  and  good  books,  written  in  the 
English  language,  and  Avith^the  weapons   thus  afforded  do 


426  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

valiant  battle  for  God  and  for  humanity  as  ministers  of 
the  New  Testament-of  Jesus  Christ.  Iowa  Baptists  have 
ever  recognized  this  and  have  honored  the  "Nature's 
noblemen"  wlio  have,  though  with  limited  equipment, 
wrought  valiantly  in  the  vineyard  of  their  Lord.  Never- 
theless, Iowa  Baptists,  from  the  first  have  shown  themselves 
not  the  people  to  put  a  premium  upon  ignorance.  They 
have  ever  emphasized  the  importance  of  education,  and 
especially  the  very  best  that  the  circumstances  will  allow 
for  those  who  are  to  instruct  the  people  in  the  best  of  all 
knowledge,  the  gospel  of  the  Son  of  God. 
'  Thus  in  the  earliest  years  of  our  history  we  have  seen 
men  of  broad  minds  and  culture  coming  to  the  front  with 
plans,  purposes  and  purses  to  promote  the  education  of 
the  ministry  and  the  people  as  well.  Societies  were 
formed,  agents  appointed,  money  contributed  and  self-sac- 
rificing teachers  found  to  carry  on  the  work  as  best  they 
could.  And  who  shall  undertake  to  say  what  portion  of 
our  success  in  Iowa  we  do  not  owe  to  the  inspiration  and 
influence  of  their  efi'orts.  We  remember  to  have  heard 
one  of  our  most  useful  men,  now  an  educator  in  an  Iowa 
Baptist  school,  say  that  a  single  remark  made  in  his  hear- 
ing at  a  certain  time  in  his  life  changed  the  whole  current 
of  his  being  and  made  him  the  manner  of  man  that  he  is. 
This  was  the  substance  of  what  he  told  us.  We  do  not 
remember  what  the  remark  was  nor  the  attendant  circum- 
stances, but  it  was  something  that  stirred  his  whole  being 
to  the  center  and  awoke  in  him  aspirations  and  resolves 
that  dominated  his  life  ever  after. 

The  earlier  Baptist  Educational  Societies  in  Iowa  re- 
ceived such  attention  as  our  space  and  the  limited  data 
afforded  in  previous  chapters  of  these  sketches.  The 
Iowa  Baptist  Union  for  Ministeral  Education  was  organ- 
ized in  1867  and  has  continued  to  the  present  time  one  of 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  427 

the  agencies  for  supplying  the  churches  with  a  ministry 
fitted  to  cope  with  the  problems  of  life  in  this  pre-emi- 
nently, active  and  skeptical  age.  It  is  our  happiness  to 
give  here  a  sketch  of  this  Society  for  the  first  12  years  of 
its  existence  by  Rev.  Dexter  P.  Smith,  D.  D.,  secretary  for 
that  period. 

On  the  9th  of  October,  1807,  at  the  anniversary  of  the 
Iowa  Baptist  State  Convention,  a  mass  meeting  of  the  dele- 
gates in  attendance  was  called  to  consider  the  expediency 
of  effecting  an  organization  to  unif}'  and  facilitate  the 
work  of  ministerial  education.  Rev.  L.  W.  Hayhurst  Avas 
appointed  chairman  and  J.  O.  Wilson,  secretary.  After 
prayerful  deliberation,  a  constitution  was  unanimously 
adopted;  the  Society  to  be  known  as  the  Iowa  Baptist 
Union  for  Ministerial  Education.  Whereupon  the  fol- 
lowing persons  enrolled  their  names  as  members  of 
the  Union,  parang  one  dollar  each:  J.  Y.  Aitchison,  O.  L. 
Crittenden,  C.  Darby,  Mrs.  S.  Day,  E.  Eaton,  E.  Gunn, 
Thomas  Garton,  Mrs.  A.  Gunn,  L.  W.  Hayhurst,  J.  F. 
Childs,  J.  Comer,  Spencer  Day,  Mrs.  Dr.  Dickinson,  J. 
Fulton,  E.  G.  O.  Groat,  Mrs.  Thomas  Garton,  O.  A. 
Holmes,  James  Henderson,  Dr.  J.  G.  Howell,  J.  A.  Nash, 
S.  Sherman,  A.  E.  Simons,  Dexter  P.  Smith,  C.  F.  Tolman, 
A.  Morse,  J.  E.  Rockwood,  W.  W.  Reed,  E.  H.  Scarff,  R. 
M.  Tracy  and  J.  T.  Westover. 

The  following  officers  were  then  elected:  President,  Rev. 
Edwin  Eaton;  Vice-Presidents,  Revs.  J.  Fulton,  J.  Y. 
Aitchison;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Dexter  P.  Smith; 
Recording  Secretary,  Rev.  O.  A.  Holmes;  Treasurer,  Spen- 
cer Day.  Board  of  Managers:  J.  Y.  Aitchison,  J.  Currier, 
J.  Fulton,  O.  A.  Holmes,  D.  Robinson,  A.  E.  Simons,  T. 
Brand,  S.  Day,  E.  Gunn,  J.  Henderson,  E.  H.  Scarfif  and  J. 
O.  Wilson. 

The   object   ot  the  society  is  to  encourage  and  assist 


428  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

needy,  worthy  young  men  of  the  Baptist  churches  in  their 
educational  preparation  for  the  gospel  ministry.  Its  orig- 
inators were  profoundly  impressed  that  the  object  is  not 
only  legitimate,  but  fundamental;  that  an  intelligent  min- 
istry is  first  and  foremost  in  the  Divinely  appointed  human 
agencies  for  christianizing  the  world.  The  power  of  the 
Church,  (very  uniformly)  is  in  the  ratio  of  the  efficiency  of 
its  ministry.  It  also  accords  with  universal  observation, 
that  the  most  efficient  ministers — men  who  have  shared  the 
largest  success — made  the  deepest  impression  on  their  own 
age  and  the  world,  other  things  being  equal,  have  been 
men,  who  combined  with  ai'dent  piety,  the  most  fully  de- 
veloped intellectual  resources.  Specially  the  times  in 
which  we  live,  demand  a  thoroughly  educated  ministry. 
The  popular  mind  is  uniformly  enlightened,  that  churches 
calling  pastors,  tenaciously  insist  that  they  must  have  men 
of  culture,  "able  to  teach  others  also";  men  who  may  be 
trusted  "for  the  defense  of  the  gospel."  And,  moreover,  it 
cannot  be  ignored  that  the  advocates  of  error  are  increas- 
ing in  numbers  and  power,  availing  themselves  of  all  that 
learning  and  sophistry  can  do  to  mystify  the  truth  and 
forestall  the  glorious  triumphs  foreshadowed  in  prophesy. 
Then  not  to  furnish  these  young  men  with  every  available 
element  of  power  to  make  full  proof  of  their  ministry,  ob- 
viously, is  to  prove  recreant  to  a  most  important  trust. 
The  friends  of  the  Union  enthused  with  these  positive  con- 
victions, entered  upon  and  prosecuted  the  work  under 
embarrassments,  and  in  much  weakness,  always  sharing 
with  other  pressing  claims,  the  prayers  and  practical  sym- 
pathy of  the  churches. 

Business. — It  is  not  practicable  or  desirable  to  c^rowd 
into  this  article  even  a  synoptical  abstract  of  business  rou- 
tine for  twelve  years  covered  by  this  paper.  The  official 
table  must  suffice.     [See  close  of  the  article.] 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  429 

Statistical  Summaky. — The  number  whose  life  work 
lias  thus  received  direction  and  augmented  efficiency,  can- 
not be  definitely  stated.  From  85  to  45  promising-  young 
men  from  Iowa  Baptist  Churches  (per  year)  were  reported 
b}'  the  Secretary,  as  engaged  in  a  course  of  preparatory 
studies  for  the  gospel  ministry;  young  men  who  had  been 
looked  up,  and  encouraged  by  this  Society.  Of  this  num- 
ber, however,  only  a  small  per  cent. — from  5  to  17  per 
year — were  adopted  as  beneficiaries  of  the  Union;  or  an 
average  of  only  nine  for  eacli  year.  These  j^oung  men, 
from  choice  (which  has'  always  been  permitted),  a  choice 
iiiHiienced  by  varied  and  diverse  circumstances,  pursued  a 
full  or  partial  course  at  the  following  schools,  namely: 
some  at  Burlington  College,  Central  and  Des  Moines  Uni- 
versities, and  others  at  Chicago,  Rochester  and  Madison 
Universities,  or  Theological  Seminaries.  The  amount  col- 
lected for  beneficiary  work  during  the  twelve  years  was 
$8,924.55.  This  includes  $500  bequeathed  by  the  late  Mrs. 
Ann  B.  Kelley,  which  amount  has  been  invested  as  the 
nucleus  of  a  permanent  fund.  This  record  of  work  shows 
only  a  small  beginning,  but  a  beginning  stamped  with  the 
unequivocal  seal  of  the  Divine  approval.  Moreover,  re- 
sults are  not  yet  measured.  The  law  of  the  harvest  guar- 
antees more  than  we  sow.  We  can  afford  to  wait;  God 
waits  long.  The  future  will  develop  the  full  harvest,  will 
compute  the  added  momentum,  the  efficiency  thus  im- 
parted to  these  forces^ — these  divinely  appointed  agencies 
for  evangelizing  the  world. 

The  great  commission  involves  the  injunction,  "Go 
teach."  Spurgeon  combines  teaching  and  preaching.  We 
have  been  told,  and  no  one  questions  the  statement,  that 
the  Karen  College  and  Theological  Seminary  in  Burmah, 
and  tlie  Teloogoo  College  in  Southern  India,  have  been  es- 
sential factors  in  the  successful  i)rosecution  of  the  Foreign 


430  HISTOKICAL   SKETCHES 

Mission  worlv.  In  reviewing  the  augmented  efficiency  of 
laborers  at  liotne  and  abroad,  who,  by  the  practical  sym- 
pathy of  some  society  like  the  Iowa  Baptist  Union  for  Min- 
isterial Education,  had  been  encouraged  to  enter  a  School 
of  the  Prophets,  where  they  had  been  taught  the  way  of 
Grod  more  perfectly,  and  "  thoroughly  furnished  unto  all 
good  works ;"  the  late  Dr.  Eaton  of  Madison  University, 
said,  in  these  memorable  stirring  words,  "Gro  to  Asia,  where 
tens  of  thousands  of  converts  attest  their  power  for  good; 
go  to  China,  to  Japan,  to  Africa;  there  you  will  find  their 
living  forms  amid  sacrifices  and  privations,  and  the  toil 
and  the  sweat  of  their  great  work;  or  if  not  their  living- 
forms,  their  foot-prints  on  the  surface,  and  their  consecra- 
ted bones  beneath  the  soil  of  the  dark  land  they  came  to 
illuminate  and  to  bless."  And  Iowa  Baptists  glory  in  hav- 
ing been  permitted  to  supplement  tlie  number  of  such  la- 
berers,  with  an  apostolic  Clough,  and  other  of  their  most 
promising  sons  and  daughters.  Dr.  Clough  though  not  a 
beneficiary  of  this  Society,  is  one  of  Iowa's  sons  and  was 
greatly  encouraged  in  his  course  at  Burlington  College,  by 
Rev.  G.  J.  Johnson,  D.  D.,  and  others.  Moreover  the 
friends  of  this  Union  indulge  in  an  admissible  gratification, 
not  to  say  pride,  as  the}^  refer  to  its  many  beneficiaries, 
who  have  developed  into  efficient  pastors  or  missionaries 
for  the  Home  service. 

Thus,  past  and  present  records  abundantly  demonstrate 
that  culture  is  the  legitimate  auxiliary  of  evangelism. 
Obliterate  the  infiuence  of  these  schools  upon  the  ministry 
and  you  necessitate  a  humiliating  contrast ;  no  mathemati- 
cal process  could  approximate  the  discount  upon  our  work; 
you  un write  some  of  the  brightest  pages  of  sacred  history; 
you  change  the  record  of  many  an  earnest  laborer,  who, 
having  gone  forth  weeping,  bearing  precious  seed,  has 
returned  with   rejoicing,  bringing   his   abundant   sheaves 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  431 

with  him.  (Aye,  unless  God,  in  his  infinite  wisdom  and 
mercy,  had  made  other  provision,)  you  convert  many  a 
fruitful  Held  into  a  heathen  jun.i2;le ;  transform  many  a 
christian  church  into  a  pagan  temple;  and  shroud  many  a 
christian  tribe  in  the  deatli  shades  of  heathenism. 

Memorial. — During  these  years  a  few  valuable  co- 
laborers  were  called  up  "higher;"  men  whose  names  are 
still  fragrant  in  the  memory  of  cliristians.  "  They  rest  from 
their  labors  and  their  works  do  follow  them."  The  first 
name  on  this  roll  is  Rev.  A.  F.  Willey  who  received  his 
discharge  at  Oskaloosa,  April  1868.  He  was  a  good  man, 
a  successful  pastor,  and  deeply  interested  in  ministerial 
education.     Death  found  him  at  his  post. 

The  next  was  the  venerable  Rev.  T.  R.  Cressey,  who 
died  at  Des  Moines,  August  30,  1870.  H^s  departure  over- 
whelmed many  hearts  with  sorrow.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  board  at  his  death,  was  an  earnest  advocate  for  an 
educated  ministry.  Recognizing  a  God  sent  ministry  as 
first  and  foremost  in  the  divine  plan  for  saving  men,  and 
intensely  devoted  to  the  work  himself,  he  always  had  a 
word  of  cheer  for  the  self-sacrificing  young  brother  in 
whose  ear  thrilled  the"?«6i6  is  me  if  I  preacli  not  the 
gospel  y 

Again,  1871  records  the  release  of  Rev.  Edwin  Eaton, 
D.  D.  Dr.  Eaton  was  president  of  the  Union  for  the  first 
three  years  of  its  history.  He  was  extensively  known  in 
Ohio,  Michigan  and  Iowa  as  an  able  and  successful  pastor, 
a  thorough  scholar,  and  a  warm  advocate  for  a  cultured 
ministry.  As  this  brief  tribute  is  paid  to  the  memory  and 
worth  of  these  noble  men,  a  voice  seems  to  whisper  "the 
night  cometh !  the  night  cometliV  Others,  since,  have 
passed  on  and  entered  into  rest. 

As  the  number  of  discharged  veterans  is  being  multi- 


432  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

plied,  both  in  the  Home  and  Foreign  service,  while  new 
and  important  fields  for  conquest  are  opening,  the  leaders 
of  Zion's  hosts — men  of  broad  views,  representative  men — 
cannot  disguise  a  little  anxiety;  aye,  the  inquiry  has  been 
instituted  and  underscored,  wliom  sliall  loe  send,  and  wlio 
will  go  for  US?  Who  will  take  the  place  of  the  fathers? 
The  question  in  reference  to  open  fields  no  longer  delays 
the  work.  How  to  secure  the  means  and  the  men  is  the 
great  desideratum  of  the  times. 

We  submit,  if  more  love  to  Christ,  a  more  elevated 
standard  of  consecration:  lives  of  closer  communion  and 
more  practical  sympathy  with  Him  in  the  great  work  of 
saving  the  world,  would  not  forestall  every  contingency;  be 
an  abundant  guarantee  for  the  men  and  the  means,  until  "all 
the  ends  of  the  earth  shall  see  his  salvation.  "  ■  We  are  told 
that  when  a  certain  emperor  proposed  to  raise  up  an  invin- 
cible army,  he  baptized  the  nation  with  the  chivalrous 
spirit  of  conquest,  adopted  for  a  device  a  coat-of-arms,  or- 
dered it  made  conspicuous  in  cver^^  place  of  public  resort, 
engraved  on  every  national  monument,  upon  every  public 
building.  The  result  was  a  generation  of  warriors;  every 
boy  in  the  street  was  a  notorious  pugilist;  the  spirit  of  ag- 
gression swayed  and  controlled  the  nation;  her  most  costly 
sacrifices  were  spontaneously  laid  upon  the  altar  of  Mars. 
Would  we  see  an  invincible  army  marshalled  for  Christ, 
and  led  forth  with  apostolic  heroism;  every  element  of 
power,  spontaneously  laid  under  contribution  to  subserve 
the  policy  of  universal  aggression  upon  tlie  kingdom  of 
darkness?  Baptize  the  churches  with  the  constraining  love 
of  Christ,  the  only  motive  power  in  the  wide  universe  which 
can  bring  up  their  entire  membership  to  the  standard  of 
primitive,  self-sacrificing  consecration;  enthusing  them  with 
a  conscious  responsibility  to  take  the  nations  for  Christ 
and  the  truth.  With  the  cross  for  a  device,  let  Zion's  birth- 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  433 

throes  be  amid  aspirations  for  the  redemption  of  the  race; 
and  with  overtiowing  treasuries,  God  will  o-ive  her  sons  and 
daughters  who,  thoroughly  prepared,  and  amply  sustaint^d 
will  go  forth  to  the  conquest  of  the  dark  continent  and 
the  world. 

''More  love  to  thee.  O  Christ, 
More  love  to  thee. " 

The  anniversaries  of  the  Union  have  been  at  the  same 
time  and  place  each  year  witli  those  of  the  Convention,  and 
the  oiRcers  are  the  same  with  the  exception  of  secretar}^ 
and  treasurer.  The  following  brethren  preached  the  an- 
nual sermons  before  the  Union  for  the  respective  jears 
1869  to  1879,  while  Brother  Smitli  was  secretary,  viz:  D.  H. 
Cooley,  D.  D.,  W.  P.  Pattison,  Prof.  Alva  Bush,  Amos 
Robinson,  N.  A.  Reed,  D.  D.,  J.  E.  Hopper,  F.  A.  Marsh, 
Robert  Leslie,  D.  N.  Mason,  Charles  Payne,  aiid  Dr.  J.  C. 
Hurd.  The  first  treasurer  was  Spencer  Day,  1867,  after 
which  year  Prof.  A.  N.  Currier  served  until  1880.  Since 
the  retirement  of  D.  P.  Smith,  D.  D.,  from  the  secretary- 
ship, that  office  has  been  filled  by  Revs.  E.  T.  Hiscox,  1880, 
H.  C.  Bristol,  1881,  C.  H.  Moscrip,  1882, T.  J.  Keith,  1883-'84, 
and  S.  E.  Wilcox,  1885-'86.  Preachers  of  the  annual  ser- 
mons, L.  N.  Call,  H.  C.  Bristol,  A.  M.  Duboc,  C.  E.  Taylor, 
C.  H.  Moscrip,  F.  D.  Rickerson,  and  W.  H.  H.  Avery. 
Treasurers  since  1880,  D.  N.  Mason,  T.  W.  Newman,  W. 
M.  Dickinson,  M.  ]).,  P.  H.  Bristow,  G.  W.  Dillavvay,  and 
E.  E.  Lewis.  Space  will  not  permit  us  to  exhibit  the 
amounts  raised  and  expended  in  aid  of  ministerial  students 
during  the  history  of  the  Union,  now  in  the  twentieth  year 
of  its  existence,  nor  perhaps  would  it  be  desirable  to  do  so. 
Suffice  it  to  nay  that  the  amount  contributed  by  the 
churches  to  this  object  has  been,  for  a  number  of  years,  un- 
comfortably small,  and  every  anniversary  the  subject  has 
been  one  of  anxious  inquiry  how  to  increase  the  efficiency 


434 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 


of  this  department  of  christian  endeavor,  but  with  little,  if 
any,  increase  of  results.  In  1873  a  legacy  of  1500. 00  from  the 
estate  of  Mrs.  Ann  B.  Kelley,  deceased,  was  ^^received  and 
ordered  to  be  permanently  invested,  the  interest  only  to  be 
used  annually  for  the  objects  of  the  Union.  It  is  not  too 
much  to  say  that  this  bequest  has  been  worth  to  the  cause 
it  was  given  to  advance,  much  more  than  its  face  value  as 
a  stimulus  to  keep  life  in  the  organization.  And  may  we 
not  hope  that  its  mission  may  yet  be  to  form  a  nucleus 
around  which  future  beneficence  may  rally  and  do  some- 
thing really  worthy  of  the  noble  purpose  which  inspired  it^ 


CHAPTER   XLYII 


Iowa  BArrrsTS  and  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mis- 
sion  Society — Money   and   Missionaries. 
Baptist  Churches  are  Missionary 
Churches. 

^^^^^^^EW,  doubtless,  even  of  the   best  informed,  are 

mr^" 'VaT  '^'.V-I 

?'  aware  to  what  extent  the  life-blood  of  Iowa 
Baptist  history  has  flowed  through  the  veins 
of  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Soci- 
ety.    It  is  a  coincidence  worth   noticing  that 


the  organization  of  that  society  and  the  beginning  of  Bap- 
tist work  in  Iowa  were  almost  simultaneous,  and  the  Society 
was  only  four  years  old  when  it  sent  its  first  missionary 
to  Iowa,  while  the  Iowa  child  was  but  two.  In  1844-45 
there  were  ten  missionaries  in  Iowa,  and  for  twenty-six 
years  from  that  date  the  number  per  year  ranged  from  10 
to  35;  the  largest  number  being  in  1865-66,  and  the  small- 
est for  twenty-six  years,  1844  to  1879  was  10. 

In  the  earlier  chapters  of  these  Sketches  we  made  men- 
tion of  many  of  the  missionaries  of  the  Society  and  the 
fields  they  occupied.  We  can  here  give  only  a  few  facts  of 
a  general  character.  Up  to  1842  the  Society  had  six  diff- 
erent missionaries  laboring  in  Iowa,   had  issued   ten   com- 


436  HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES 

missions,  appropriated  $750  and  had  received  $32.  During 
tlie  next  decade  to  1852,  commissions  ]21,  appropriations, 
$16,530,  receipts  $1,099.  Third  decade  to  1862,  commis- 
sions 194,  appropriations  $38,917,  receipts  $4,990.  Fourth 
decade  to  1872,  commissions  191,  appropriations  $38,909,  re- 
ceipts $5,858.  Total  up  to  1872,  commissions  516,  appro- 
priations $95,106,  receipts  $11,979.  From  1872  to  1879,  tlie 
last  year  before  the  present  plan  of  cooperation  was  adop- 
ted, when  the  missionaries  of  the  Convention  became  mis- 
sionaries of  the  Society  and  received  their  commissions 
from  New  York;  the  number  of  commissions  by  the  Soci- 
ety w^as  for  the  respective  years  7,  11,  8,  4,  6  and  9. 

CooPEKATiON. — From  the  organization  of  the  Conven- 
tion up  to  1856,  it  occupied  the  position  simply  of  an  agent 
or  auxiliary  of  the  Home  Mission  Society.  After  the 
Convention  began  to  do  missionary  work  in  its  own  name, 
for  many  years  there  was  an  informal  but  quite  definite 
understanding  that  the  Home  Mission  Society  would  take 
care  of  central  points,  as  far  as  means  would  permit,  while 
the  Convention  would  look  after  the  more  rural  districts 
and  newer  fields.  As  time  passed  on  and  means  increased 
the  Convention  gave  more  attention  to  points  of  promise 
and  strategic  importance.  This  mutual  understanding 
prevailed  with  the  happiest  results  for  many  years,  the 
Convention,  by  its  Board  or  prominent  brethren,  endorsing 
applications  to  the  parent  society  for  aid  where  unable  to 
mal-ie  appropriations  from  its  own  treasury.  Prior  to  1870 
a  plan  of  cooperation  with  State  Conventions  had  been 
proposed  and  very  warmly  urged  by  the  excellent  Dr  Jay 
S.  Backus,  for  many  years  corresponding  secretary  of  the 
Home  Mission  Society,  by  whicli  the  missionaries  selected 
by  the  State  Board  should  be  recommended  to  the  society 
and  appointed  by  tlieir  Board.  This  plan  of  cooperation 
had  been  adopted  b}^  Illinois,  Wisconsin,  New  York  and 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  487 

otlier  states,  and  had  been  urged  upon  the  consideration  of 
Iowa  Baptists,  'i'lie  following-  is  the  text  of  tlie  proposi- 
tion, as  cut  from  the  annual  report  of  the  society  a  few 
years  earlier,  and  printed  in  the  Convention  minutes 
in  1870. 

'- Besolmf],  That  we  do  hereby  invite  all  State  Conven- 
tions and  other  organizations  for  home  mission  purposes,  to 
cooperate  with  this  society  by  assisting  in  the  collection* 
of  funds  for  the  treasury,  pointing  out  the  most  desirable 
fields  for  us  to  cultivate,  and  directing  our  attention  to  the 
men  they  deem  most  suitable  for  missionary  work.  In 
return  we  will,  according  to  our  best  discretion  and  to  the 
extent  of  our  ability,  appoint  such  men  to  occupy  such 
fields,  and  when  desired,  will  cause  to  be  sent  to  such  or- 
ganizations duplicate  copies  of  all  reports  from  our  mis- 
sionaries in  their  state."  At  the  anniversary  in  1870,  held 
at  Des  Moines,  '"Brethren  D.  H.  Cooley,  E.  Eaton  and  O. 
A.  Holmes  were  appointed  a  committee  to  report  on  co- 
operation with  the  Home  Mission  Society."  This  committee 
reported,  and  their  report,  after  a  lengthy  discussion,  was 
made  the  special  order  for  Monday  at  10  a.  m.,  and  Breth- 
ren Thickstun  and  Pattison  added  to  the  committee.  At 
the  appointed  time  the  committee  again  reported,  recom- 
mending the  adoption  of  "  the  plan  proposed  by  the  Home 
Mission  Society,  and  adopted  by  Illinois,  Wisconsin,  New 
York  and  other  states,"  as  outlined  above.  It  was  then 
ordered  that  the  report  be  printed  in  the  minutes,  and  that 
Brethren  Nash,  Mitchell,  Brand,  A.  T.  Cole  and  Holmes 
be  appointed  a  committee  to  whom  the  matter  was  referi-ed 
to  report  at  the  next  annual  meeting.  Before  the  next 
annual  meeting  it  became  manifest  to  some,  at  least,  who 
were  watching  the  matter  carefully,  that  the  existing  plan 
of  cooperation  was  about  to  break  down  in  other  states 
where  it  had  been  worked  for  several  years.     The  commit- 


438  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

tee  therefore  reported  "While  expressing  our  warmest 
attachment  to  the  Home  Mission  Society  ;  and  profound 
gratitude  for  all  it  has  done  and  is  doing  for  Iowa  and  the 
west ;  we  cannot  believe  that  from  any  true  point  of  con- 
sideration, financial  or  otherwise,  it  is  expedient  to  enter 
into  the  proposed  alliance." 

This- report  was  made  the  Special  Order  for  a  subse- 
•  quent  hour,  and  after  thorough  discussion  "adopted  nearly 
unanimously.''  The  wisdom  of  this  action  was  vindicated 
by  the  Home  Mission  Society  in  a  3^ear  or  two  cancelling 
the  arrangement  in  the  States  where  it  already  existed. 
We  hear  no  more  of  co-operation,  meaning  organic  co-oper- 
ation, till  about  1878,  when  the  existing  plan,  introduced 
probably  by  Dr.  S.  S.  Cutting  then  the  Corresponding  Sec- 
retary, began  to  be  accepted  by  some  of  the  Western  States 
and  was,  as  we  have  already  seen,  adopted  in  Iowa  and  en- 
tered upon  in  1879  and  '80.  The  relations  existing  between 
Iowa  Baptists  and  the  Home  Mission  Society  were  not 
disturbed  by  the  discussion  and  the  rejection  of  the  pro- 
posed plan  of  co-operation.  In  1872  a  committee  of  the  State 
Convention  at  Clinton,  of  which  the  writer  was  chairman, 
reviewed  the  work  of  the  Society  in  Iowa  for  the  thirty  years 
that  the  Convention  had  then  been  in  existence,  showing 
that  for  the  entire  period  the  parent  Society  had  appropri- 
ated in  Iowa  nearly  eight  dollars  for  every  dollar  received 
from  the  State,  and  said,  "we  are  especially  satisfied  with 
the  spirit  and  manner  of  the  co-operation  extended  to  us 
during  theyear,  wherein,  as  shown  by  our  Secretary's  report, 
the  Society  has  so  liberally  shared  in  the  expense  of  occu- 
pying many  of  our  most  important  fields,  etc."  Eight  mis- 
sionaries had  been  under  joint  appointment  of  the  two 
societies,  the  Convention  paying  one  half  of  the  amount 
needed  to  aid  in  their  support,  and  the  Society  the  other 
half.     The  basis  of  organic  co-operation  adopted  in  1879, 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  439 

and  which  has  been  in  force  with  such  marked  satisfaction 
since,  it  is  believed  lias  all  the  advantages  of  the  former 
plan,  and  is  free  from  its  objections.  It  is  found  in  full  in 
the  Annual  of  that  year,  page  eight,  and  need  not  be 
reproduced  here. 

As  indicated  in  the  heading  of  this  chapter,  Baptist 
churches  are  missionary  churches,  and  whatever  is  of  last- 
ing interest  to  our  missionary  work,  either  State,  Home,  or 
Foreign,  must  be  worth  recording  and  cherishing  among 
our  sacred  recollections.  In  the  minutes  of  one  of  our  Asso- 
ciations in  1869  is  a  paragraph  entitled  ^^ Baptist  Faith.'''' 
It  is  without  "credit"  and  we  do  not  remember  to  have 
seen  it  elsewhere.  It  is  deemed  worthy  of  preservation 
here.  "  There  is  no  salvation  but  b}^  the  free  mercy  of 
God ;  no  mercy  but  by  the  mediation  of  Christ;  no  interest 
in  Christ  except  by  a  personal  faith  in  him  ;  no  Justifying 
faith  but  that  which  works  by  love  and  purifies  the  heart; 
no  love  to  Christ  that  does  not  include  love  to  his  people, 
his  example,  his  precepts,  and  testify  itself  to  the  world 
by  implicit  and  cheerful  obedience  to  all  his  commands; 
and  no  genuine  love  to  his  people  that  does  not  influ- 
ence a  man  to  do  good  to  them  as  he  has  ability  and  op- 
portunity." \ 

Woman's  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society,  and  woman's  \ 

department  of  the  mission  work.    As  in  this  and  a  previous  | 

chapter  we  have  written  jointly  of  State  and  Home  mission  I 

work,  we  may  make   brief   mention   here   of   the  women's  i 

work  in  these  departments.     In  no  department  of  christian  j 

endeavor  has  there  been  more  marked  advance  within  the  | 

last  two  decades  than  in  the  coming  to   the   front   of    the  \ 

noble   women   of   our   churches,   and   the   efficiency  with  \ 

which  they  transact  the  business  of  their  own  departments  \ 
and  the  quickening   inspiration   that   their   presence   has 
Imparted  to  all  our  work.     For  the  last  few  years  the  offi- 


440 


IIISTOKICAL    SKETCHES. 


cers  and  agents  of  the  Woman''s  Home  Mission  Societies 
have  been  ever  present  with  inspiring  reports  of  their  work 
at  OLir  annual  gatherings.  Mrs.  T.  F.  Thickstun,  Mrs.  H, 
C.  Hnntsraau  of  Oskaloosa,  Mrs.  B.  F.  Derr,  for  five  or  six 
years  vice  president  for  Western  Iowa,  Mrs.  W.  H.  H. 
Avery,  who  has  acted  in  the  same  capacity  for  Eastern 
Iowa,  with  others  who  ought  to  be  named  if  space  would 
allow,  have  become  as  familiar  names  as  are  found  in  any 
department  of  christian  work.  For  the  year  just  closed, 
1886,  the  department  of  Western  Iowa  reported  by  Mrs. 
Derr  8496.72  sent  to  the  treasurer  of  the  W.  B.  H.  M'.  So- 
ciety, and  843.94  to  the  treasurer  of  the  State  Convention  ; 
and  Eastern  Iowa  reported  by  Mrs.  Avery  $423.58  sent  to 
the  society  at  Chicago  and  $49.98  to  the  State  Convention. 
Total  for  Iowa,  $1,171.26,  of  which  $157.15  was  in  goods 
from  Mrs.  Avery's  district. 


CHAPTER  XLVIIL 


Iowa  Baptists  and  Foreign  Missions — American  Bap- 
tist Missionary  Union — Contributions  and 
Missionaries  from  Iowa — 1840  to  1886. 


iHE  AMERICAN  BAPTIST  MISSIONARY 
Union  had  been  in  existence  twenty-six 
years  when  its  life  first  touched  the  Baptist 
life  in  Iowa.  That  touch  drew  forth  the 
contribution  of  $1.50.  We  are  not  surprised 
to  learn  that  the  name  accompanying  that  contribution  was 
that  of  Lydia  Cady  of  the  Long  Creek  Baptist  Church. 
That  was  in  1840.  What  a  privilege  to  start  that  stream 
of  christian  beneficence  that  has  flowed  with  a  steady  flow 
for  forty-six  years,  making  for  itself  a  wider  channel  and 
bearing  upon  its  bosom  precious  freight  for  the  blessing  of 
"Afric's  Sunny  fountains  and  India's  coral  strand,  "  yea  of 
the  wide,  wide  world  !  If  the  sainted  Cadys  can  look  down 
from  the  celestial  sliores  and  take  cognizance  of  what  is 
going  on  here,  no  inconsiderable  part  of  their  joy  must  be 
in  witnessing  the  increase,  as  the  years  go  by,  of  that  work 
■which  they  were  permitted  to  be  the  first  in  Iowa  to  con- 
secrate a  portion  of  their  substance  to.  Iowa  Baptist  his- 
tory when  fully  written  will  give  a  large  place  to  Foreign 
■   ■"' 


442 


HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES 


Missions.  The  little  one  has  already  become  many  thou- 
sands. Iowa's  part  in  the  work  of  the  Missionary  Union 
has  been  first  in  giving  money  and  second  in  giving  men 
and  women  to  the  work.  We  will  first  record  here  what 
Iowa  Baptists  have  done  in  giving  money.  The  second 
contribution  was  in  1842  Deacon  Cady  $5,  Deacon  Rudd$2, 
Laura  Amball  50  cents,  and  the  Iowa  Association  (after- 
wards Des  Moines  Association)  collection  $6.67.  The  fol- 
lowing statement  furnished  by  Rev.  C.  F.  Tolman,  District 
Secretary  of  the  Missionary  Union,  exhibits  the  annual  do- 
nations in  Iowa  down  to  October.  1886. 


1840 

1S42 

$      1.50 

11.67 

1857-58 

1858-59 

1859-60 

1860-61 

$  391.86 

349.33 

167.72 

186.36 

1873-73 

1873-74 

.$2749.83 
.  2518.68 

lS4:!-44 

1S44-4.5 

12.61 

52.74 

98.34 

15.49 

43  93 

1874-75 

187.5-76 

.  2638.73 
.  34;39.11 

1846-47 

1861-62 

.     305.00 

1876-77 

.  2740.75 

1847-48 

1862-63 

357.87 

1877-78 

1878-79 

.  ;M41.53 

1848  49 

1863-64 

1864-65 

669.94 

1373-  99 

.  3892.33 

1849  .")(l 

70.35 

62.05 

102.35 

1879-80.; 

1880-81 

4610  01 

18.')1)  al 

1865-66 

.     954.09 

.  2989.58 

lhT)l-.">2 

1866-67 

1867-68 

1868-69 

1869-70 

1486.79 

1505.78 

2517.32 

2410  53 

1881-82 

1882-83 

.  4131.05 

1852-.5;i 

..     241.15 

.  9085.50 

1853-54 

1854  55 

225.62 

295  28 

1883-84 

1884-85 

.  2733.17 
.  2954.63 

1855-56 

446.12 

1870-71 

1871-72 

1886.07 

1384.82 

1885-86 

.  3269.64 

1856-57 

4.51.30 

Since  April,  1886. 

.  1031  ai 

The  total  contributions  in  Iowa  for  the  Missionar.v  Union  amount  to  $68,893.07. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  after  the  going  out  of  Brother 
Clough  in  1864  the  contributions  nearly  doubled  those  of 
the  preceding  year.  The  exceptionally  large  amount  re- 
ported for  1882-83,  $9,085.59,  included  a  legacy  of  $5,000, 
from  the  late  Spencer  Alden  of  Anamosa. 

Missionaries  of  the  American  Baptist  Missionary  Union 
who  have  gone  from  Iowa  or  whose  friends  live  in  the 
State: 

Rev.  I.  J.  Stoddard,  was  born  in  Eden,  New  York  in 
1820,  entered  the  preparatory  department  of  Madison  Uni- 
versity in  1839,  graduated  in  1845,  and  from  the  theological 
department  in  1847.  Sailed  with  his  wife  for  Assam,  No- 
vember 3, 1847.  Returned  to  this  country  in  1856  and  lived 
in  Pella,  Iowa.     With  restored  health  they  were  reappoint- 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  443 

ed  and  returned  to   Assam  in   1866.     After  a   number   of 
years  of  labor  returned  and  still  live  at  Pella. 

Rev.  J.  E.  Clough  and  wife  from  Strawberry  Point, 
Iowa,  received  their  appointment  and  sailed  for  India  in 
1864.  A  more  extended  notice  of  Brotlier  Clougli  will  be 
found  on  pages  69  and  70  of  this  volume. 

Rev.  T.  J.  Keith  and  wife  went  from  Waukesha,  Wis., 
to  the  Garo  work  in  India  in  1871  and  returned  in  1876,  af- 
terwards settling  in  Iowa,  where  Brother  Keith  has  been 
in  the  active  work  of  the  ministry  since  1877.  Brother 
Keith  did  work  in  Iowa,  supplying  the  church  at  Oska- 
loosa  some  months  before  going  to  India,  and  before  the 
completion  of  his  studies. 

Mrs.  Lavinia  Clough  Williams  sailed  with  her  hus- 
band in  1873  for  India  and  died  on  the  field  a  few  years 
later. 

Rev.  Albert  Loughridge  and  wife,  both  of  Iowa, 
sailed  for  India  in  1875.  After  a  number  of  years  of  faith- 
ful service  the  health  of  Mrs.  Loughridge  gave  way  and 
they  are  now  in  Iowa  again,  she  at  her  old  home  in  Mount 
Pleasant,  he  teaching  in  Burlington  College.  Brother 
Loughridge  was  of  excellent  United  Presbyterian  parent- 
age, was  a  pupil  of  the  writer  in  his  early  schooldays,  went 
into  the  army  at  sixteen  or  under  as  a  member  of  the  4th 
Iowa  Cavalry,  returned  and  graduated  at  the  State  Univer- 
sity at  Iowa  City.  While  pursuing  his  studies  he  became 
a  Baptist  and  united  with  the  Iowa  City  Church.  He 
taught  in  the  Central  University  at  Pella  before  going  to 
the  foreign  field. 

Miss  A.  S.  Norwood  went  to  China  in  1877.  Miss 
Norwood  was  from  Nova  Scotia.  She  spent  a  number  of 
years  in  Iowa  and  taught  in  Burlington  College  before  her 
departure  for  China.  Since  going  to  China  she  has  been 
married. 


444  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Rev.  G.  L.  Mason  and  wife  were  set  apart  to  the  work 
at  Ningpo,  China,  at  the  Convention  at  Mason  City  in  1880. 
Brother  Mason's  parents  live  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Iowa. 

Miss  L.  Ella  Miller  is  the  daughter  of  Rev.  Thomas  I 

Miller,  who  is  well  known  in  these  sketches  since  as  early  as  i 

1856   in   Iowa.     Ella  graduated  at  the  University  of  Des  | 
Moines  and  went  to  Burmah  in  1877.     She  is  now  in  this 

country.  1 

Miss   Naomi    Garton   long   lived  with   her   family  at  j 

Carlisle  and   East  Des  Moines,  Iowa,   was   a   successful  I 

teacher  in  the  East  Des  Moines  schools  for  a  number  of  | 

years,  and  went  to  the  Foreign  field  in  1881,  where  she  | 
remains. 

Mrs.  Timpany  and  Mrs.  McLaurin,  of  the  Canadian 
Mission,  are  daughters  of  Rev.  John  Bates  and  lived  four- 
teen years  in  Iowa  shortly  before  they  went  to  India. 

Rev.  Lyman  Stilson,  for  many  years  a  missionary  of 
the  Union  in  India,  the  hero  of  toil  and  suffering  for  his 
divine  Master,  spent  fifteen  years  of  his  later  life  at  Jeffer- 
son, Iowa,  where  he  died  March  23,  1886,  aged  81  years,  1 
month  and  25  days.  I 

The  history  of  the  connection  of  Iowa  Baptists  with 
Foreign  Missions  would  be  incomplete  without  a  reference 
to  Rev.  S.  M.  Osgood,  D.  D.,  for  many  years  agent  of  the 
Union  and  making  annual  visits  to  our  state.  How  well 
we  remember  the  moving  tones  of  the  saintly  old  man  as 
he  used  to  thrill  us  with  his  appeals  in  behalf  of  the 
"missionary  enterprise."  Could  ever  anyone  else  put  so 
much  meaning  into  those  two  words  ?  For  more  than  a 
score  of  years  Rev.  C.  F.  Tolman  has  been  so  much  a  part 
of  many  of  our  Iowa  gatherings  every  year,  that  we  have 
long  since  ceased  to  think  of  him  in  any  other  light  than  as 
an  important  factor  in  Iowa  Baptist  life.     Rev.     W.  C. 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  445 

Gunn  also  did  important  service  in  stirring  our  hearts  in 
the  cause  of  Foreign  Missions,  and  is,  by  association  as 
well  as  by  marriage,  a  connecting  link  between  us  and 
Foreign  Missions.  Trul}^  has  Iowa  been  owned  of  God  in 
her  part  in  preaching  the  gospel  to  the  heathen.  In  a 
report  in  1886  we  find  this  suggestive  comparison  :  "Twen- 
ty-one years  ago,  when  John  E.  Clough,  missionary  to  the 
Teloogoos,  baptized  his  first  convert,  our  membership  was 
13,372  and  the  number  of  Teloogoos  converted  to  Christ  25. 
Now  our  membership  has  increased  to  about  27,000,  while 
the  Teloogoo  Baptists  have  increased  to  26,400.  We  have 
doubled  while  they  have  multiplied  more  than  a  thousand 
fold."     We  close  this  chapter  with  a  notice  of  the 

Woman's  Baptist  Foreign  Mission  Society  of  Iowa. 
This  Society  was  organized  in  1880  at  Mason  City.  In 
1877  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Convention  at  Bella, 
"Mrs.  Tolman  spoke  of  the  degraded  condition  of  heathen 
women,  and  what  the  Woman's  Mission  Society  is  doing 
for  them,  and  a  collection  was  taken  amounting  to  $9.10  to 
be  divided  equally  between  the  Woman's  Foreign  and 
Home  Mission  Societies."  This  is  the  first  notice  which 
we  find  in  our  annual  records  of  the  Woman's  Foreign  Mis- 
sion Society  of  the  West  which  was  then  six  years  old. 
In  1878  Mrs.  M.  A.  McGonegal  was  State  Secretary  for 
the  Woman's  Society  of  the  West  and  Mrs.  John  Fulton 
of  Winterset  and  others  spoke  in  favor  of  the  Society,  and 
at  the  close  of  an  address  by  Mrs.  McGonegal  a  collection 
was  taken  amounting  to  $24.41.  In  1879  Mrs.  E.  O.  Camp- 
bell is  mentioned  as  making  an  address  on  "Woman's 
Work  in  Foreign  Missions."  At  the  organization  at  Ma- 
son City  in  1880  services  were  conducted  by  Mrs.  L.  A. 
Dunn  of  Bella.  Mrs.  T.  F.  Thickstun  was  called  to  the 
chair  and  Mrs.  E.  O.  Campbell  of  Clarence  acted  as  Secre- 
tary.    Committee  on  Constitution,  Mrs.  John  Fulton,  Mrs. 


446  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

M.  A.  McGonegal,  Mrs.  J.  C.  Burkholder,  Mrs.  T.  W. 
Newman  and  Mrs  T.  F.  Thickstun.  The  organization  was 
perfected  by  the  adoption  of  a  Constitution  presented  by 
the  Committee,  and  the  election  of  Mrs.  Fulton  as  presi- 
dent, Mrs.  McGonegal  as  corresponding  secretary,  and 
treasurer,  and  Mrs.  E.  O.  Campbell  recording  secretary. 
By  a  collection  of  85.01  and  $16.91  "previously  contributed 
for  the  inauguration  of  that  organization"  the  Society  start- 
ed with  $21.92  in  its  treasury.  In  the  Annual  of  1881  we 
find  the  Constitution  and  By-Laws,  but  no  account  of  the 
annual  meeting.  In  a  report  on  Foreign  Missions  are  these 
words:  "The  records  show  a  steady  advance  on  the  part  of 
the  Women's  Circles,  from  $1,159  three  years  ago  to  $1,901 
1880-81."  In  1882  Mrs.  S.  M.  Dickinson  of  Des  Moines 
presided  at  the  sessions  and  Mrs.  M.  A.  McGonegal  pre- 
sented the  annual  report  as  corresponding  secretary.  At 
the  close  of  the  annual  session  the  following  officers  were 
elected:  Mrs.  T.  W.  Newman,  Burlington,  president;  Mrs. 
Linfield,  Muscatine,  vice-president;  Mrs.  C.  E.  Higgins, 
Burlington,  corresponding  secretary  and  treasurer;  Mrs.  E. 
O.  Campbell,  recording  secretary.  The  officers  since  1882 
have  been:  presidents,  Mrs.  H.  E.  Page  in  1883  and  Mrs. 
W.  A.  Cain  for  the  three  years  since;  vice-presidents,  Mrs. 
Cain  in  1883  and  Mrs.  E.  C.  Spinney  since;  corresponding 
secretary  and  treasurer,  Mrs.  G.  F.  Linfield  in  1883  and 
Mrs.  E.  O.  Campbell  since;  recording  secretary,  Mrs.  Camp- 
bell in  1883.  Miss  Ella  Berger  of  Sioux  City  in  1884  and 
Mrs.  A.  W.  Fuller  since.  The  names  of  the  women  who 
have  been  active  in  the  work  of  this  Society  and  other  de- 
partments of  Woman's  work  in  Missions  are  w^orthy  of 
honorable  mention  but  as  our  space  is  filling  up  and  as 
the  organization  of  these  societies  is  of  recent  occurrence 
we  may  leave  some  of  them  for  the  future  historian  to 
record. 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 


Iowa  Baptists  and  the  Sunday  School  Work — Sunday 
School  Union — Publication  Society,  etc. 

ROM  the  first  Iowa  Baptists,  the  Baptists  that 
have  made  history  in  Iowa,  have  shown  a 
deep  and  abiding  interest  in  the  promotion 
and  efficiency  of  Sabbath  school  work.  It  is 
true  that  the  line  between  what  was  called 
antl-'mission  and  missionaiy  Baptists  was  as  sharply 
drawn  on  the  Sabbath  school  question  as  any  other,  the 
Old  School  insisting  that  Sabbath  schools,  as  well  as  mis- 
sionary societies  and  temperance  societies,  were  not  author- 
ized by  the  scriptures,  and  that  they  were  therefore  of  the 
devil  and  it  was  not  safe  to  have  anything  to  do  with  them. 
Many  who  came  out  from  their  churches  and  adopted 
missionary  ideas  were  from  habit  slow  to  engage  in,  and 
from  want  of  knowledge  and  experience  inefficient  in  Sun- 
day school  effort  But  these  were  the  exceptions,  and  the 
remark  holds  true  that  the  Baptists  who  have  made  history 
in  Iowa  as  elsewhere  have  from  the  first  been  earnest  pro- 
moters of  the  Sabbath  school  enterprise.  In  1848  we  find 
the  following  report  in  the  Convention  minutes,  signed  R. 
Weston,  chairman  of  committee  .  "Believing  that  the  in- 
stitution of  Sabbath  schools  is  approved  by  our  Heavenly 


448  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Father,  and  that  it  is  among  the  most  effectual  instrumental- 
ities to  promote  the  social,  moral  and  spiritual  interests  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  west,  "  "  "  your  committee 
would  earnestly  recommend  that  the  members  of  the 
churches  of  this  Convention  engage  personally  in  the  Sab- 
bath school  work,  and  bring  their  own  children,  and  as  far 
as  they  can  consistently,  the  children  of  their  neighbors 
under  Sabbath  school  instruction."  Similar  resolutions 
were  passed  in  the  Des  Moines  Association  in  1851  and  in 
other  years,  and  in  fact  in  nearly  all  of  the  Associations 
and  Conventions  of  those  earlier  as  well  as  in  later  years. 
A  great  defect  of  our  earlier  records  is  the  want  of  ade- 
quate statistical  and  classified  information  of  the  work 
done.  This  will  apply  especially  to  Sunday  school  work. 
The  first  attempt  at  Sabbath  school  statistics  we  find  in 
1855,  when  in  5  Associations  there  were  reported  15  schools, 
147  teachers,  1401  scholars,  and  3947  volumes  in  libraries. 
These  were,  of  course,  only  partial  statistics,  while  in  3 
Associations  there  was  no  report  at  ^all.  But  little  im- 
provement was  made  in  reporting  Sunday  school  work  until 
1864,  when  the  first  steps  were  taken  towards  organizing 

The  Iowa  Baptist  Sunday  School  Union. 

Rev.  D.  S.  Watson  of  Davenport  intro  duced  the  follow- 
ing: "  Whereas,  The  importance  and  necessities  of  the 
Sunday  School  work  call  for  the  adoption  of  some  system 
of  measures  which  will  result  in  an  increased  efficiency  in 
this  department  of  christian  effort,  and  believing  that  the 
organization  of  a  Sunday  School  Convention  embracing 
the  schools  of  our  churches  throughout  the  State  would 
tend  largely  to  promote  this  end.     Therefore, 

Resolmd,  That  such  steps  be  taken  at  this  time  as  are 
necessary  to  secure  the  organization  of  a  State  Sunday 
School  Convention,  whose  session  shall  be   held   the  day 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  449 

preceding  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Ministerial  Union." 
The  foregoing  preamble  and  resolution  were  adopted  and 
"  Brethren  Watson,  Westover  and  Wilson  were  appointed 
to  prepare  for  carrying  out  its  object."  This  committee  re- 
ported the  next  year,  1865,  and  presented  a  Constitution 
which  was  accepted,  and  the  Iowa  Baptist  Sunday  School 
Union  organized.  Officers  elected  for  the  ensuing  year  were: 
president,  J.  T.  Westover;  vice-presidents,  Jesse  Clement, 
F.  Mott  and  J.  E.  Rockwood;  corresponding  secretary,  D. 
S.  Watson;  treasurer,  J.  O.  Wilson.  Subsequent  officers 
of  the  Union  were:  presidents,  D.  F.  Carnahan,  H.  R.  Wil- 
ber,  L.  W.  Hay  hurst,  J.  Edminster,  A.  Bush,  C.  H.  Rem- 
ington, S.  H.  Mitchell  two  years,  1872-73;  Wm.  H.  Stiller, 
1874-75;  secretaries,  D.  S.  Watson,  R.  King,  J.  Sunderland 
1868-70,  E.  K.  Cressey  and  J.  Sunderland,  1872-75;  treasur- 
ers, J.O.  Wilson,  1866-67,  J.  Sunderland,  1868,  S.  H.  Mitch- 
ell, 1869-71,  E.  T.  Cressey,  E.  E.  Lewis  and  Henry  Williams, 
1874-75.  Vice-presidents  were  chosen,  most  of  the  time, 
one  from  each  Association  in  the  State.  The  interest  in  the 
Sunday  School  work  received,  through  the  Union,  increased 
attention  at  each  anniversary,  and  after  a  few  3- ears  the 
statistics  began  to  show  a  marked  increase  throughout  the 
State.  Although  at  the  organization  in  1865  a  constitution 
was  presented  by  the  committee  and  after  some  alterations 
adopted,  nothing  more  appears  on  that  subject  until  1869, 
when  Bros.  C.  T.  Tucker,  T.  W.  Powell  and  J.  S.  Mabie 
were  appointed  a  "Committee  to  present  a  Constitution  for 
this  body."  They  reported  a  Constitution  which  was  adop- 
ted ^nd  printed  in  the  Minutes.  The  president,  secretary 
and  treasurer  constituted  an  executive  committee  to  trans- 
act the  business  of  the  Union  and  report  at  each  annual 
meeting.  The  annual  reports  of  this  committee  from  year 
to  year  show  that  efficient  work  was  being  done.  As  early 
as  1870  we  find  a  quite  full  report  of   Sabbath  School  work 


450  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

from  all  the  Associations  in  which  the  following  summary 
appears:  Number  of  churches,  330;  Sunday  Schools  includ- 
ed in  the  report  158,  churches  having  Baptist  schools,  108;, 
churches  having  Union  schools,  33;  churches  not  reported, 
]65;  number  of  Bible  classes,  272;  pupils  in  Bible  classes, 
2989;  officers,  537;  teachers,  1443;  scholars,  13,824;  total 
membership  of  schools,  15,907;  total  membership  of  church- 
es (1869)  19,149;  number  of  schools  holding  all  the  year, 
84;  number  holding  only  in  summer,  41;  volumes  in  libra- 
ries 26,092,  children's  papers,  monthly,  12,687;  teacher's  pa- 
pers 527;  teacher's  meetings,  weekly,  34:  Sunday  School 
concerts,  53;  conversions,  357;  money  raised,  $5,681.44. 

As  the  years  rolled  by  it  came  to  be  felt  by  earnest  Sun- 
day School  workers  that  a  more  efficient  agency  was  need- 
ed to  awaken  interest  in  the  work  generally,  and  especially 
to  provide  the  schools  with  more  and  better  qualified 
teachers.  Teacher's  meetings  and  teacher's  training  classes 
were  recommended,  but  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  way 
has  not  yet  been  found  out  to  make  these,  except  in  a  few 
instances  and  to  a  limited  extent,  a  success.  Accordingly 
in  1870  the  Executive  Committee  recommended  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  State  Sunday  School  Missionary  under  the  aus- 
pices of  the  Bible  and  Publication  Society.  The  recom- 
mendation was  referred  to  a  committee  consisting  of  Breth- 
ren D.  H.  Cooley.  J.  C.  Otis,  and  A.  Bush.  This  committee 
reported  favorably  and  recommended  the  name  of  Rev.  T. 
W.  Powell  of  Davenport  for  such  appointment. 

The  next  year,  1871,  however,  the  executive  committee 
reported  that  "  the  attempt  to  secure  a  Sunday  school  mis- 
sionary for  the  state"  had  not  proved  successful.  They 
still  renewedly  expressed  their  conviction  of  the  importance 
and  need  of  such  a  service,  and  strongly  urged  the  contin- 
uance of  effort  to  that  end.  A  special  committee  was 
appointed  who  conferred  with  Rev.  G.  J.  Johnson,  district 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  451 

secretary  of  the  Publication  Society,  who  submitted  a 
proposition  which  tlie  committee  thought  probably  practi- 
cal, but  nothing  really  came  of  it  until  1872,  when  at'  the 
annual  meeting  at  Clinton  action  was  taken  appointing  Rev. 
J.  E.  Rockwood  of  Logan  as  State  Sunday  School  Mission- 
ary, and  asking  his  appointment  of  the  Bible  and  Publica- 
tion Society,  with  the  understanding  and  pledge  that  the 
Baptists  of  Iowa  would  "  if  possible,  as  a  special  contribu- 
tion, provide  for  all  the  expenses  of  the  Sunday  school 
work."  Brother  Rockwood  entered  upon  the  work  January 
1,  1878  and  at  the  annual  meeting  in  October  of  that  year 
it  appeared  that  the  expenses  had  been  $1,126.32-  and  the 
receipts  $1,027.04,  leaving  a  balance  of  only  $99.28.  This 
was  under  the  joint  appointment  of  the  Iowa  Baptist 
State  Sunday  School  Union  and  the  American  Baptist  Bible 
and  Publication  Society,  and  was  for  the  first  year,  a  gratify- 
ing success.  Brother  Rockwood  was  continued  in  the  field 
until  March  10, 1874.  Rev.  M.  T.  Lamb  was  appointed  by 
the  Executive  Committee  and  the  Publication  Society 
jointly  and  entered  upon  the  work  June  1,  1874,  and  con- 
tinued till  about  August  1875. 

As  early  as  the  annual  meeting  in  1871,  the  question  of 
consolidating  the  Sunday  School  Union  with  other  organi- 
zations was  agitated  and  it  was  "  voted  that  the  Moderator, 
Rev.  C.  H.  Remington,  act  as  a  committee  from  this  Union 
with  similar  committees  from  the  State  Convention  and 
Ministerial  Union  relative  to  consolidation."  Nothing, 
however,  seems  to  have  been  accomplished  in  this  direction 
till  1875,  when  a  committee  was  appointed  to  "make  over- 
tures to  the  State  Convention  to  adopt  and  prosecute  the 
work  in  which  we  have  hitherto  engaged  "  and  it  was  re- 
solved "that  in  the  event  of  the  State  Convention  comply- 
ing with  the  terms  of  this  recommendation  and  giving 
satisfactory   proof   thereof   to  the  executive  committee  of 


452  HISTOKICAL   SKETCHES 

this  Union,  then  this  Union  shall  cease  to  exist  as  a  sepa- 
rate organization,  its  work  and  results  becoming  a  part  of 
that  of  the  State  Convention  of  this  State."  The  proposi- 
tion was  unanimously  adopted  by  the  Convention  at  its 
session  in  1875  and  Rev.  James  Sunderland  was  elected 
Sunday  School  Secretary  of  the  Convention.  In  1876  and 
'77  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Stifler  served  as  Sunday  School  Secre- 
tary, D.  D.  Proper  in  1878  and  J.  H.  Delano  in  1879  and 
W.  H.  Stifler-again  in  1880.  Brother  Stifler  then  filled  the 
place  with  great  ability.and  fidelity  to  our  Sunday  School 
interests  until  October  1884,  when  Rev.  C.  H.  DeWolf  was 
elected  to  the  office.  During  the  year  ending  October  1877 
Rev.  G.  W.  Prescott  was  employed  as  State  Sunday  School 
Missionary  for  four  months  and  nine  days,  when  the  work 
was  suspended  for  want  of  means  to  carry  it  on  without  a 
debt.  In  1878  a  plan  of  co-operation  with  the  American 
Baptist  Publication  Society  was  agreed  upon  and  the  Rev. 
D.  D.  Proper  was  appointed  and  entered  upon  the  work  of 
Sunday  School  Missionar}^,  Januar}"  1879.  Brother  Proper 
continued  to  serve  until  April  1880,  when  he  resigned  and 
Rev.  B.  H.  Brasted  was  nominated  by  the  Board,  and 
"duly  commissioned  for  the  period  of  six  months,"  or  up 
to  the  annual  meeting  in  October  1880.  Rev.  D.  D,  Proper 
again  took  up  the  work  of  State  Sunday  School  Missionary, 
entering  upon  it  January  1,  1881.  He  continued  until 
April  1882,  when  he  became  Missionary  Secretary  and  Gen- 
eral Missionary  of  the  Convention  and  Rev.  Gilman  Par- 
ker was  appointed  later,  began  the  work  in  Juh^  1882, 
and  continued  until  September  1884.  After  an  interval,  in 
June  1885,  Rev.  F.  N.  Eldridge  entered  upon  the  work  and 
continues  to  the  present  time. 

After,  in  1875,  the  Union  was  merged  in  the  State  Con- 
vention, and  its  "special  work  entrusted  to  a  special 
secretary,"  as  we  have  seen   above,  the  work  continued  to 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  453 

drag  and  very  little  was  done.  The  first  year  the  receipts 
from  the  Sabbath  schools  were  only  $67.85.  The  plan  of 
co-operation  with  the  Publication  Society,  agreed  upon  at 
the  annual  meeting  at  Bedford  in  1878,  contained  the  fol- 
lowing provisions  :  We  give  them  in  condensed  form. 

I.  The  Sunday  school  committee  of  the  Convention  to 
nominate  the  missionary,  suggest  his  salary  and  supervise 
his  labors,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  society. 

II.  The  missionary  to  do  a  general  pioneer  missionary 
work,  establish  schools,  organize  churches,  hold  meetings 
with  feeble  churches,  and  improve  existing  methods  of 
instruction  by  holding  Sunday  School  Institutes ;  circulate 
publications  and  periodicals  and  obtain  subscriptions  for 
the  society ;  and  take  collections  for  the  Sunday  school 
work  in  the  state,  so  far  as  should  not  interfere  with  his 
missionary  work. 

III.  The  society  to  assume  the  prompt  payment  of  the 
missionary  and  the  necessary  expenses  of  the  secretary. 
The  Board  of  the  Convention  to  use  their  utmost  endeavors 
to  aid  the  committee  to  raise  on  the  field,  at  least  the  salary 
and  expenses  of  the  missionary. 

IV.  All  the  appeals,  oral  or  printed,  to  be  made  in  the 
name  of  the  xlmerican  Baptist  Publication  Society  and  the 
Iowa  Baptist  State  Convention. 

Under  this  agreement  the  efficient  work  of  the  last  few 
years  has  been  done.  At  the  annual  meeting  in  Des 
Moines  in  1884  the  Convention,  at  the  suggestion  of  the 
secretary,  voted  "  that  the  Board  take  the  work  into  their 
own  hands  and  carry  it  on  independent  of  the  Publication 
Society,"  and  "the  Sunday  school  committee  set  about 
securing  a  missionary  to  enter  the  field  under  the  changed 
order  of  things.''  But  they  were  not  successful.  The  con- 
viction  soon   began    to  ''force  itself  upon  the    minds   of 


454  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

many  brethren  that  a  mistake  had  been  made  in  sunder- 
ing relations  with  the  Publication  Society,  and  after 
not  a  little  correspondence  and  discussion  the  Board  decid- 
ed to  return  to  substantially  the  former  plan  of  co-oper- 
ation, and  action  to  that  effect  was  taken  at  the  February 
meeting  "  in  1885.  The  plan  of  work  has  been  to  enlist 
the  Sunday  schools  of  the  state  to  contribute  for  thqieupport 
of  the  missionary,  thus  developing  their  benevolence  while 
securing  the  work.  In  1881  65  schools  contributed  $400.27; 
in  1882,  59  schools,  $375.53;  1883,61  schools,  $512.19;  1884, 
55  schools,  $340.35 ;  and  in  1885,  36  schools  and  one  Asso- 
ciation, $296.06.  This  last  year  there  was  a  break  in  the 
Sunday  school  work,  and  contributions  were  for  but  a  part 
of  the  year.  In  1884  "Childrens'  Day"  contributions  from 
Iowa  were  $601.29,  making  in  all  nearlj^  $1,000  from  the 
schools  that  year. 


CHAPTER    L. 


Iowa  Baptists  and    their  Institutions   of  Learning. 
Work  and  W  orkers — Other  Means  of  Improve- 
ment— Ministers'   Institutes — The  Stand- 
ard  AND    OTHER  RELIGIOUS   PAPERS. 


VIDENTLY  the  time  has  not  yet  come  to  write 
the  history  of  Iowa  Baptist  Institutions  of 
Learning,  nor  is  (he  writer  of  these  Sketches 
the  one  to  be  the  historian  of  that  depart- 
ment of  effort.  It  should  be  the  prerogative 
of  some  one  connected  with  each  school,  perhaps,  to  hand 
down  its  history  to  those  who  are  to  bear  the  burdens  after 
them.  This,  in  some  instances,  it  is  highly  probable  will 
be  done  in  due  time.  Our  work  however,  would  be  too  in- 
complete without  such  mention  of  those  who  have  toiled 
and  sacrificed  in  the  cause  of  christian  learning  as  our 
memory,  with  the  aids  at  hand,  will  enable  us  to  make. 
We  have  given  some  account  of  the  founding  of  the  insti- 
tutions at  Burlington  and  Pella.  Of  the  men  and  women 
who  have  labored  in  the  departments  of  instruction  in 
these  institutions  we  can  only  give  the  names  of  such  as 
come  to  mind:  Rev.  G.  W.  Gunnison,  Lorenzo  B.  Allen,  D. 
D.,  James  Henderson,  Joseph  T,  Robert,  LL.  D..Prof.  L.  E. 


456  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Wortman,  Prof.  Stearns  and  wife,  Miss  Norwood,  Prof. 
Clement  and  others  doubtless  as  worthy  of  mention  have 
been  instructors  in  this  Institution.  Rev.  E.  C.  Spinney, 
D.  D.,  president  of  Burlington  College  since  1883,  was  born 
in  Wilmot,  N'.  S.,  March  27,  1845;  matriculated  at  Horton 
Academy  in  1864,  graduated  at  Acadia  College  in  1868  and 
at  Newton  Theological  Seminary  in  1876.  Entered  senior 
year  at  Harvard  College.  Was  pastor  of  First  Baptist 
Church,  Pel  la  Iowa,  1872-8-4,  also  Professor  of  Greek  in 
Central  University.  He  was  pastor  of  Pleasant  Street 
Baptist  Church  at  Concord,  N.  H.  1876-78,  and  of  First 
Baptist  Church  Burlington,  Iowa,  1880-84.  Also  member 
of  Board  of  Hebrew  School  at  Chicago,  and  one  of  the  spe- 
cial editors  of  the  "  Western  Pulpit  and  Pew. "  He  has 
had  associated  with  him  in  the  Faculty  of  Instruction  his 
excellent  wife.  Prof.  Clement,  Miss  Rudd,  Profs.  Lough- 
ridge,  Forward,  Forbey  and  others. 

In  Central  University  Prof.  E.  H.  Scarff,  Mrs.  B.  C.  A. 
Stoddard,  Rev.  Elihu  Grunn,  Prof.  A.  N.  Currier,  and 
others  whose  names  are  not  recalled,  did  long  and  excellent 
service  in  the  earlier  days.  Rev.  L.  A.  Dunn,  D.  D.,  was 
called  to  the  presidency  in  1871,  and  continued  for  ten 
years.  He  was  succeeded  in  1881  by  Rev.  G.  W.  Gardner, 
D.  D.,  who  filled  the  position  for  three  years,  when  failing 
health  compelled  his  resignation  and  return  to  Massachu- 
setts. Dr.  Gardner  had  associated  with  him  as  Chancellor 
during  his  administration  Deacon  F.  E.  Balch,  who  had 
earned  a  reputation  and  valuable  experience  as  a  financier 
in  the  east.  Rev.  D.  Read,  LL.  D.,  was  president  during 
1885-6,  previous  to  which  Prof.  R.  H.  Tripp  had  been  Act- 
ing President  since  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Gardner. 

Cedar  Valley  Seminary  at  Osage,  Iowa,  was  started 
by  Rev.  Alva  Bush  about  1863.  The  citizens  of  Osage 
made  a  proposition  in  September,  1862,  to  the  Cedar  Valley 


E.  C.  SPINKEY,  D.  D. 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  457 

Association,  to  "  f urnieh  appropriate  buildings  if  the  As- 
sociation would  establish  and  maintain  an  institution  of 
learning?  suited  to  the  wants  of  the  community."  The 
Association  voted  to  accept  the  proposition,  and  after 
canvassing  the  subject  Rev.  Alva  Bush,  "who  had  just 
completed  an  engagement  as  Professor  of  Mathematics  in 
the  Upper  Iowa  University,  moved  his  family  to  Osage, 
and  on  January  10,  1863,  commenced  a  school  in  the  Court 
house,  which  was  given  the  name  of  Cedar  Valley  Semi- 
nary. The  entire  meeting  of  the  prescribed  conditions  and 
the  transfer  of  the  fine  property  of  the  institution  by  the 
citizens  to  the  Association  did  not  take  place  until  1870, 
though  excellent  work  had  been  done  in  the  meantime,  the 
seminary  sending  out  its  first  graduating  class  in  1871. 
Brother  Bush  continued  to  serve  as  president  and  princi- 
pal until  his  death,  July  26,  1881,  eighteen  years.  It  is 
safe  to  say  that  through  its  entire  history  this  has  been 
the  most  successful,  in  the  work  undertaken,  of  all  our 
Iowa  Baptist  schools.  Hon.  A.  Abernethy  is  the  present 
principal. 

The  University  of  Des  Moines  originated  in  1865  in 
a  conviction  in  the  minds  of  many  Iowa  Baptists  that 
providential  circumstances  favored,  and  that  the  Baptists 
ought  to  have  an  institution  located  at  Des  Moines,  the 
growing  capital  of  the  state.  A  building  that  had  been  de- 
signed and  partially  completed  by  another  denomination 
for  educational  purposes  was  offered  for  sale  on  reasonable 
terms.  Rev.  Luther  Stone  of  Chicago,  who  from  the  first 
had  evinced  a  deep  interest  in  educational  affairs  in  Iowa, 
advanced  the  money  to  purchase  the  property  and  hold  it 
for  the  denomination  until  further  steps  could  be  taken. 
A  school  was  started  in  1866.  Rev.  J.  A.  Nash,  D.  D.,  had 
been  interested  in  the  education  of  the  young  from  the 
early  days  in   Des  Moines,  keeping  for  years  a  sort   of 


458  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

private  school  for  such  as  came  to  him  to  receive  instruc- 
tion. He  has  been  closely  identified  with  the  interests  of 
the  University  from  the  first,  and  was  for  years  its  presi- 
dent. Rev.  J.  F.  Childs,  Rev.  Thomas  Brand  and  others 
have  borne  financial  burdens  to  maintain  its  existence. 
Judge  Frederick  Mott,  Hon.  A.  Abernethy,  Rev.  Ira  E. 
Kenney,  and  the  late  Prof.  D.  F.  Call  were  called  to  pre- 
side over  the  institution,  and  a  goodly  array  of  teachers 
have  given  instruction  in  its  walls.  The  old  campus  and 
building  were  disposed  of  and  the  institution  removed  to 
its  present  site  at  Prospect  Park  under  the  presidencj'^  of 
Dr.  Kenney.  Prof.  A.  B.  Price  is  the  present  principal. 
During  1886  the  expecta  tions  of  many  Baptists  were  turned 
anew  towards  this  institution  and  many  hopes  and  resolu- 
tions have  been  expressed  for  its  prosperity.  The  one 
thing  now  needed  is  for  its  friends  to  arise  and  meet  the 
emergency  of  the  times  and  Iowa  Baptists  may  have  an 
institution  at  the  state  capital  that  will  be  a  source  of 
good  to  the  generations  to  come.  Will  they  do  it,^  Prof. 
Goldthwaite,  Rev.  H.  A.  Brown,  Mrs.  Sawin,and  a  number 
of  others  have  done  good  work  teaching  in  this  institution. 
Many  names  of  ministers  and  missionaries  who  stand  high 
in  the  roll  of  the  Master's  owned  and  honored  servants, 
both  in  the  Home  and  in  the  Foreign  field,  have  been  stu- 
dents in  these  several  Iowa  institutions.  Though  we  Lave 
not  the  data  nor  the  memory  to  name  them,  all  their  names 
are  written  above,  and  the  record  is  one  that  we  can  trust 
to  honor  God  and  the  memory  of  sacrificing  ones  who  have 
toiled  in  the  years  gone  by  with  perhaps  little  reAvard  or 
recognition  here. 

Ministers'  Institutes. 

Among  modern  methods  for  mutual  improvement   the 
Ministers'  Institute  was  doubtless  suggested  by  the  success 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  459 

of  Teachers'  Institutes,  which  had,  since  about  1855  or  a 
little  later  come  into  general  use  and  proven  so  beneficial 
to  the  teaching  forces  in  our  public  schools.  The  writer 
attended  and  participated  in  the  first  Teachers'  Institute 
held  in  Iowa  between  1855  and  1860.  The  Ministers'  Insti- 
stitute  was  first  suggested,  if  we  mistake  not,  by  Dr.  G.  S. 
Bailey,  tlien  of  Illinois,  later  of  Iowa,  now  of  California. 
The  first  of  these  in  Iowa  was  at  Oskaloosa  about  1873, 
within  a  year,  at  least,  of  that  date.  Rev.  E.  C.  Spinney 
was  the  secretary  and  kept  a  full  minute  of  the  proceed- 
ings, but  the  record  has  been  mislaid  and  cannot  be  found. 
This  is  much  to  be  regretted,  as  the  occasion  was  one  of 
very  great  interest.  The  attendance  was  large,  and  the 
people  of  Oskaloosa,  many  of  them,  became  so  deeply 
engaged  that  they  listened  hour  after  hour  to  lectures  on 
theological  subjects  without  once  thinking  of  their  being 
dry.  Rev.  G.  W.  Northrup,  D.  D.,  of  Chicago,  the  late 
Jeremiah  Hall,  D.  D.,  J.  A.  Nash,  D.  D.,  Rev.  J.  E.  Hopper, 
N.  S.  Burton,  D.D.,and  perhaps  some  others  delivered  lec- 
tures. Dr.  Northrup  on  the  Holiness  of  God  as  Fundamen- 
tal, and  the  relation  of  this  doctrine  to  the  Atonement,  and 
other  doctrines  in  theology,  in  a  course  of  lectures  running 
through  the  entire  week;  Dr.  Hall  several  lectures  on 
Homiletics,  Dr.  Nash  on  Worship,  Dr.  Burton,  The  King- 
dom of  God  and  the  Church  of  Christ,  and  Brother  Hopper 
on  the  Higher  Life.  Subsequent  Institutes  were  held  at 
Des  Moines,  at  Burlington  and  at  Marshalltown,  in  which, 
among  other  lecturers,  we  can  remember  as  we  write.  Rev. 
Lemuel  Moss,  D.  D.,  E.  C.  Mitchell,  D.  D.,  G.  W.  Gardner, 
D.  D.,  Rev.  Henry  G.  Weston,  D.  D.,  Dr.  J.  M.  Stifier,  Dr. 
Galusha  Anderson,  Justin  A.  Smith,  D.  D.,  Dr.  T.  J.  Mor- 
gan, and  others,  whose  words  ^of  counsel  and  instruction 
stirred  and  quickened  many  an  humble  Iowa  pastor,  and 
doubtless  were  felt  on  many  a  field  of  toil  in  influences,  the 


460  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

results  of  which  only  eternity  will  measure.  It  is  to  be 
regretted  that  such  means  could  not  be  more  frequently 
available  to  the  toilers  in  the  Master's  humbler  fields  of 
patient  usefulness. 

The  Religious  Newspaper  as  a  Means  of  Improve- 
ment Among  Iowa  Baptists. 

The  religious  press  has  been  recognized  by  Iowa  Baptists 
from  the  first  as  a  necessary  concomitant  of  a  productive 
religious  life.  It  appears  that  at  the  meeting  in  1842  for 
the  organization  of  the  State  Convention,  a  committee  was 
appointed  on  the  subject  of  a  periodical.  At  the  first 
anniversary  in  1843  Elder  Hezekiah  Johnson  from  the 
committee  reported,  recommending  ''that  the  Baptists  of 
Iowa  patronize  the  North  Western  Baptist^  published  at 
Chicago,  at  $1  per  year,"  Tlie  Macedonian,  "published  by 
the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,"  was  also  represented  at 
this  meeting.  A  similar  resolution  commending  the  North 
Western  BaiMst  was  passed  in  1844,  and  Rev.  Charles  E. 
Brown  appointed  a  committe  of  correspondence  with  the 
paper.  A  year  later  we  find  the  Convention  "adopting" 
and  endorsing  the  Western  Star,  published  at  Jackson- 
ville, 111.,  and  edited  by  Rev.  A.  Bailey.  Also  in  1846  the 
Des  Moines  Association  passed  resolutions  endorsing  the 
Western  Star  and  the  "Mother's  Journal,  Missionary 
Magazine  and  Macedonian."  About  the  year  1847  Rev. 
Luther  Stone  started  a  paper  in  Chicago  called  the 
Watchman  of  the  Prairies,  and  in  1848  the  Des  Moines 
Association  recommended  this  paper  to  the  patronage  of 
the  churches.  We  note  these  proceedings  as  illustrating 
how  thoroughly  alive  our  Baptist  fathers  were  to  the  value 
of  this  species  of  religious  reading  for  the  families  of  their 
churches.  In  1853  the  subscription  list  of  the  WatcJiman 
of  the  Prairies  was  sold  by  Rev.  Luther  Stone  to  Rev.  J.  C. 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  461 

Burroughs,  and  the  resultant  new  paper,  the  CJtiistian 
TiTnes,  was  published  for  a  few  months  by  Dr.  Burroughs, 
"in  association  with  Rev.  Henry  G.  Weston,  then  of 
Peoria,  and  Rev.  A.  J.  Joslyn  of  Elgin.  In  November 
1853  Rev.  Leroy  Church  and  Rev.  Justin  A.  Smith  became 
joint  proprietors  of  the  Christian  Times.  Mr.  Smith  -  soon 
transferred  his  proprietary  interest  to  Rev,  J.  F.  Childs, 
who  was  in  turn  succeeded  by  Edward  Goodman,  the  pres- 
ent senior  proprietor  of  the  Standard,  the  name  finally 
taken  by  the  paper.  So  much  preliminary  history,  as  to 
the  origin  of  the  paper  itself,  seemed  to  be  necessary  in 
order  to  properly  represent  The  Standard  in  Iowa  as  one 
of  the  efficient  forces  in  the  history  of  the  denomination  in 
the  state.  The  circulation  of  the  paper  in  Iowa  was  quite 
limited  until  October,  1854,  when  Mr.  Edward  Goodman, 
the  present  senior  proprietor,  visited  the  state  with  a  view 
to  introduce  it  more  generally  among  the  churches.  He 
began  at  Davenport,  October  20th  of  that  year,  the  Iowa 
Baptist  State  Convention  being  in  session  at  that  place, 
and  .traveled  as  far  west  as  Des  Moines,  through  a  large 
number  of  counties,  visiting  every  church,  and  a  great 
many  of  the  members  at  their  homes.  The  canvass  con- 
tinued for  seven  months ;  a  large  number  of  subscribers 
was  obtained,  and  thus  began  a  general  circulation  of  the 
Standard  in  Iowa  that  has  continued  and  incieasedas  the 
years  rolled  by.  The  conductors  of  the  paper  regard 
Iowa  as  one  of  the  most  interesting  sections  of  their  large 
field,  and  have  shown  their  desire  to  serve  the  cause  in  the 
state,  not  only  by  allowing  a  liberal  space  for  church  news 
in  the  columns  of  the  paper,  but  also  by  the  publishing  of 
large  Supplements  at  various  times,  devoted  especiall}^  to 
Iowa  interests.  As  regards  questions  upon  which  the  de- 
nomination in  Iowa  is  divided,  such  as  that  of  the  location 
of   the   Baptist   State   University,  the   conductors   of   the 


462  -    HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

Standard  have  kept  in  mind  the  fact  that  such  questions 
are  rather  to  be  determined  by  the  wisdom  of  Iowa 
Baptists  themselves,  than  by  their  brethren  elsewhere, 
however  much  interested  while,  when  it  seemed  duty,  they 
have  frankly  expressed  their  views  upon  certain  phases  of 
the  question.  They  have  borne  in  mind  the  fact  that  the 
Standard  is  the  organ  for  the  whole  body  of  Baptists  in 
Iowa,  and  that  brethren  holding  opposite  views  upon  special 
questions  are,  in  the  same,  entitled  to  a  hearing  in  its 
columns.  The  endeavor  of  those  engaged  on  the  paper 
has  been  to  show  their  good  will  toward  all  denominational 
interests  in  Iowa,  and,  as  in  other  states,  to  serve  not  to 
rule.  The  present  conductors  of  the  Standard  are  Rev, 
Justin  A.  Smith,  D.  D.,  Edward  Goodman,  Mrs.  E.  R. 
Dickerson,  and  J.  Spencer  Dickerson. 

Other  Baptist  papers  have  had  considerable  circulation 
in  Iowa,  as  the  Examiner  of  New  York,  the  WatcJiman 
of  Boston,  the  National BaptutQi  Philadelphia,  the  Journal 
and  Messenger  of  Cincinnati,  the  Central  Baptist  of  St. 
Louis,  and  some  others.  In  earlier  days  the  American 
Baptist,  published  by  Dr.  Nathaniel  Brown  in  the  inter- 
ests of  the  American  Baptist  Free  Mission  Society,  had 
quite  a  circulation  in  some  of  our  churches  where  the  anti- 
slavery  sentiment  was  the  strongest.  About  1874-5  Rev. 
A.  Robbins,  afterwards  associating  with  him  Rev.  J.  B. 
Hawk,  and  subsequently  Rev.  J,  D.  Morris,  started  the 
Baptist  Beacon,  published  first  at  Pella  and  then  at  Des 
Moines,  Iowa.  Brother  Robbins  made  a  good  paper,  but 
for  want  of  means  it  was  suspended  after  a  few  years.  The 
Western  Bulpit  and  Pew  was  a  monthly, periodical  started 
and  edited  by  Rev.  W.  A.  Welsher,  but  only  continued  for 
about  one  year. 


CHAPTER   LI 


Retrospectivt]— Biographical — A  Growth — First  Cap- 
itol OF  Iowa  as  a  State  and  its  Bap- 
tist Church. 

|UCH  a  volume  as  this  upon  which  we  are  en- 
gaged, like  its  subject  matter,  is  a  growth.  It 
was  unavoidable  that  most  valuable  materials 
that  ought  to  have  had  place  in  the  beginning 
of  these  Sketches,  should  come  to  hand  after 
the  earlier  pages  had  gone  through  the  press.  But  as  we 
have  undertaken  to  write,  only  in  Sketches  rather  than, 
what  will  undoubtedly  come  later  from  an  abler  pen, a  con- 
nected history,  the  introduction,  in  a  retrospective  chapter, 
of  some  very  valuable  matter  belonging  to  the  earlier  peri- 
ods will  be  admissible.  The  only  remaining  constituent 
member  of  the  Iowa  Baptist  State  Convention,  so  far  as  we 
know  now  living  in  Iowa,  is  Rev.  Charles  E.  Brown  of 
Lime  Springs,  Howard  county.  The  only  other  one  known 
to  be  living  at  all  is  Rev.  VVm.  Elliott,  if  still  alive,  who 
went  to  Nebraska  a  few  years  ago. 

Rev.  Charles  E.  Brown  was  born  in  Augusta,  Oneida 
county,  New  York,  February  23,  1813,  son  of  Rev.  P.  P. 
Brown,  one  of  the  successful  pioneer  ministers  in  Central 


464  HISTOKICAL   SKETCHES 

New  York.  Converted  when  19  years  of  age,  he  became  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church  in  Augusta,  of  which  his 
father  was  pastor.  He  was  educated  at  Madison  Univer- 
sity and  ordained  in  September  1838,  and  married  the  same 
month  to  Miss  Frances  L3^on  of  Little  Falls,  New  York. 
He  commenced  labor  as  pastor  of  the  Norway  Baptist 
Church  in  the  following  November,  and  continued  four  and 
one-half  years  here,  and  at  Warren  in  the  same  county,  bap- 
tizing nearly  40  persons.  In  May,  1842,  he  was  appointed 
by  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society  to  Iowa,  at 
a  salarj^  of  $100  per  annum,  and  S75  to  pay  expenses  of 
moving  to  the  field.  He  had  then  a  wife  and  two  children 
to  support.  After  a  journey  of  nearly  4  weeks,  200  miles 
by  canal  boat,  nearly  900  b}^  steamboat,  and  about  150  by 
lumber  wagon,  he  reached  his  field  of  labor,  the  Forks  of 
Maquoketa,  territory  of  Iowa,  the  last  of  May,  1842.  The 
next  month,  June,  1843,  he  and  his  wife  went  to  Iowa  City, 
60  miles,  over  an  almost  uninhabited  prairie,  to  aid  in 
the  formation  of  the  Iowa  Baptist  State  Convention.  The 
means  of  conveyance  for  the  assembling  brethren  and 
sisters  was  "on  foot,  on  horse  back,  and  in  prairie  schoon- 
ers." Mr.  Brown  says,  "Elder  M.J.  Post  came  over  a 
hundred  miles  on  horse  back,  with  Brother  Rudd  walking 
by  his  side  holding  on  to  the  stirrup  of  his  saddle.  It  was 
a  glorious  meeting,  and  the  brethren  and  sisters  parted 
full  of  faith  and  courage  for  the  religious  future  of  Iowa." 

Elder  Brown  and  his  wife  were  the  missionaries  who, 
the  following  September,  "rode  40  miles  in  a  one-horse  cart 
constructed  for  the  occasion  out  of  the  hind  wheels  and- 
axle  of  an  old  lumber  wagon,"  to  attend  the  organization 
of  the  Davenport  Association.  Elder  Brown  furnisjies 
some  additional  information  in  regard  to  tlie  organization 
of  some_of  the  early  churches  in  this  Association.  The 
LeClaire  Church,  at  first  called  Bath,  was  organized  in  1839 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  465 

by  Elder  Rodolphus  Weston,  a  classmate  of  Elder  Brown, 
and  at  the  time  pastor  at  Carthage,  Illinois.  Davenport 
Church  was  organized  in  August  of  the  same  year.  Xot 
being  prepared  for  winter  in  the  unfinished  log  cabin  then 
occupied.  Elder  Brown  moved  with  his  family  to  Davenport 
in  November,  1842,  and  became  the  joint  pastor  of  the 
Davenport  and  Rock  Island  Churches.  The  following 
winter  is  remembered  by  the  early  settlers  as  the  long, 
cold  winter  of  1842-3.  During  that  year  Elder  Brown  bap- 
tized 50,  most  of  them  into  the  two  churches  whicli  he 
served  as  pastor,  two  or  three  at  Port  Byron,  Illinois,  and 
a  number  at  Comanche  Iowa,  where  he  organized  a  church. 
His  next  pastorate  was  at  Le  Claire.  In  1847  he  returned 
to  Maquoketa  and  reorganized  tlie  church  there.  In  1851, 
with  broken  health  he  returned  to  the  state  of  New  York, 
where  he  remained  as  pastor  six  years,  and  then,  in  1857, 
returned  to  Iowa  and  settled  in  the  extreme  northern  part 
of  the  state,  in  Howard  county,  to  avoid  the  ague  and 
fever,  "the  annual  dread  of  the  people  further  south,"  he 
says,  in  those  earlier  years.  In  Howard  county,  where  he 
has  lived  most  of  the  time  for  30  years,  he  organized  the 
church  at  Vernon  Springs  (now  Cresco)  and  the  Lime 
Springs  Church.  Of  these  he  was  pastor  many  years.  The 
people  of  Howard  countyjelected  him  the  first  count}'^  super- 
intendent of  schools  under  the  present  school  law,  and  also 
honored  him  with  a  seat  in  the  Seventeenth  General  xVs- 
sembly  of  the  State. 

Note.  The  Rev.  Rodolphus  Weston,  (printed  by  mis- 
take Adolphus  in  the  Baptist  Encyclopedia)  who  organized 
the  Baptist  Church  at  LeClaire  in  1839  was  appointed 
Missionary  of  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society 
to  Hancock  county,  Illinois,  in  that  year.  He  preached  in 
many  places,  and  became  pastor  at  Carthage,  where  he  had 
a  great  revival  and  remained  pastor  for   12  3^ears.     In  1852 


466  .  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

he  went  overland  to  Oregon,  where  he  was  pastor  of  the 
West  Union  Church,  and  Missionary  of  the  Willamette 
Association  until  1863,  when  he  r-emoved  to  Washington 
Territory.  He  was  "the  pioneer  Baptist  preacher"  of  that 
Territory:  the  only  Baptist  preacher  for  many  years  in  a 
large  district  of  country.  It  is  said  "The  churches  at  Elma, 
Centerville,  Olympia,  Seattle  and  other  places  all  recog- 
nize in  'Father  Weston'  one  of  the  chief  founders  of  the 
Baptist  cause  in  Washington  territory."  Another  connect- 
ing link  between  the  Baptists  of  Iowa  and  this  part  of  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  and  those  of  the  North  Pacific  coast, 
Oregon  and  Washington  Territory. 

Iowa  City  and  its  First  Settlers,  and   Organization 
OF  THE  Baptist  Church. 

From  a  sermon  preached  by  Rev.  Dexter  P.  Smith,  D. 
D  ,  on  the  17th  of  December,  1876,  we  take  a  few  facts  that 
are  too  valuable  to  miss  of  preservation  in  this  retrospect. 
"In  1837  the  only  civilized  inhabitants  of  Johnson  county 
were  Col.  S.  C.  Trowbridge,  Eli  Myers,  Philip  Clark,  Sam- 
uel Walker  and  Eli  Simms.  In  1839  the  capitol  commis- 
sioners: Chauncy  Swan  of  Dubuque  county,  John  Ronnels 
of  Louisa  county,  and  Robert  Ralston  of  Des  Moines  coun- 
ty, surveyed  and  laid  out  the  capitol  of  the  Territory  on 
the  section  now  occupied  by  Iowa  City.  Tlie  only  improve- 
ments indicative  of  civilization  were  two  unfinished  cabins. 
During  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  his  excellency,  Rob- 
ert Lucas,  Governor  of  the  Territory,  accompanied  by  his 
wife  and  daughter,  visited  the  new  capitol,  traveling  from 
Burlington  to  Iowa  City  on  horseback.  They  were  provi- 
ded with  what  was  then  deemed  ample  accommodations,  at 
a  log  cabin,  the  sleeping  rooms  of  which  were  reached  by 
means  of  a  ladder.  By  January  1,  1840,  the  population 
had   increased   to   twenty   families,   and   in  April  of  that 


OF   IGWA    BAPTISTS.  467 

year,  Cliauncey  Swan,  Commissioner,  commenced  the  erec- 
tion of  the  Capitol  building.  In  December,  18-11,  the  Leg- 
isture  convened  at  Iowa  City.  In  1842  $50,000  liad  been 
expended  on  the  State  House,  and  the  population  had  in- 
creased to  nearly  1.000.  Iowa  was  admitted  to  the  Union 
as  a  State,  December  28,  1846,  and  the  Capitol  was  subse- 
quently re-located  at  Des  Moines  and  the  State  University 
established  at  Iowa  City  as  a  compensation.  The  State 
building  was  donated  to  the  University  with  other  valua- 
ble property  which  has  since  been  greatly  augmented. 
The  first  Baptists  who  settled  at  Iowa  City  were  Isaiah 
Choate  and  I.  N.  Sanders  and  wife.  In  1841  other  mem- 
bers of  the  denomination  having  located  at  or  near  the  Cit}^, 
it  was  deemed  advisable  to  organize  a  Baptist  Church.  A 
Council  met  at  the  Choate  school  house,  June  28, 1841,  com- 
posed as  follows'  Galena,  Illinois,  Rev.  John  Champlin; 
Dubuque,  Iowa,  Rev.  Burton  Carpenter,  and  Rev.  W.  B, 
Morey,  late  of  New  York;  of  the  resident  members.  Elder 
B.  M.  Parks,  Isaiah  Choate,  Newton  Sanders,  Jehiel  Parks, 
Julius  Brown,  Jas.  N.  Ball,  Julia  Ball,  Harrison  Parks, 
Lucy  Parks,  Eliza  Parks,  and  Orville  Parks.  Elder  Parks 
was  appointed  Moderator  and  Isaiah  Choate,  clerk.  All 
concurred  in  the  expediency  of  the  organization.  Mr.  Car- 
penter preached  in  the  evening  and  W.  B.  Morey  on  Sun- 
day morning,  and  at  the  close  of  the  morning  service  bap- 
tized in  the  beautiful  Iowa  River,  Brothers  F.  Hardee  and 
John  Wolf.  A  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  W.  B.  More}^ 
July  24,  1841,  who  thus  became  the  first  pastor  of  the  Iowa 
City  Church,  services  beginning  in  October  of  that  year  and 
preaching  one-fourth  of  his  time. 

Some  things  in  the  subsequent  history  of  the  Iowa  City 
Church  are  too  good  to  be  left  out  of  this  reminiscence. 
"The  Iowa  Baptist  State  Convention  met  with  the  Iowa 
City  Church  in  June,  1846.     Over  thirty  of   the   delegates 


468  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

were  lodged  at  the  pastor's  house.  Cots  were  obtained 
from  the  American  Hotel  for  the  women,  who  occupied  the 
upper  rooms.  Buffalo  robes,  quilts  and  blankets  were 
spread  upon  the  floor  below,  where  some  of  the  brethren 
were  ''packed';  others  retired  to  the  horse  barn.  The 
matron  who  superintended  the  cooking  stated  that  over 
three  hundred  meals  were  provided  at  that  house  during 
the  meetings.  The  formidable  array  of  Baptists  made  an 
impression  on  the  capital  city.  A  good  Methodist  sister, 
awestruck,  exclaimed, 'I  did  not  suppose  there  were  so 
many  Baptists  in  the  world.'"  In  Obituary  notes  will  be 
found  an  account  of  the  death  of  Rev.  A.  Russell  Bolden, 
brother  Smith's  successor  in  the  pastorate.  We  subjoin  here 
another  thrilling  account :  "The  city  had  just  been  startled 
by  the  announcement  of  the  death  of  Mrs.  Col.  Allen  with 
cholera.  Mr.  Belden  joined  with  the  bereaved  family  in 
requesting  Rev.  Dexter  P.  Smith  to  preach  the  funeral 
sermon  the  following  Sunday.  "Revs.  Belden  and  Smith, 
with  a  few  friends,  met  at  the  house  of  Col.  Allen  for  a 
short  service,  after  which  the  remains  of  Mrs.  Allen  were 
conveyed  to  the  cemetery  for  burial.  Mr.  Belden,  in  ap- 
parent good  health,  rode  with  Mr.  Smith.  They  returned 
about  noon,  and  before  the  close  of  that  day  Mr.  Belden  had 
passed  away.  The  city  was  clouded  with  gloom  ;  all  felt 
that  God  was  near.  Mr.  Smith  preached  his  funeral  ser- 
mon at  the  same  hour  previously  fixed  for  the  funeral  of 
Mrs.  Allen."  The  writer  of  these  sketches,  with  his  wife, 
had  just  arrived  in  Iowa  in  September,  1855.  Spending  a 
week  in  Muscatine  we  then  "took  stage -'for  Oskaloosa, 
via  Iowa  City,  Washington,  Fairfield  and  Ottumwa.  Ar- 
riving at  Iowa  City  on  Friday  night  we  were  informed  that 
no  stage  ran  on  Saturday  for  Oskaloosa,  so  there  was  no 
way  but  to  stay  in  that  city  till  jMonday  morning.  We 
put  up  at  a  hotel  and  spent  the  time  as  best  we  could.  We 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  469 

remember  distinctly  the  awe  and  gloom  that  pervaded  the 
place  on  account  of  a  number  of  cases  of  cholera,  though 
the  people  kept  it  as  still  as  they  could.  This  was  still  in 
September,  and  though  we  have  not  the  exact  date  of  the 
death  of  Mrs.  Allen  and  Mr.  Belden,  it  is  very  likely  we 
were  there  just  at  the  time. 

The  experience  of  getting  the  first  church  building  for 
the  Iowa  City  Church,  which  was  at  the  time  the  best 
Baptist  church  edifice  westof  the  Mississippi,  and  is  the  one 
occupied  by  the  church  yet,  is  worth  a  permanent  record. 
A  large  Sabbath  school  had  been  gathered.  The  church 
had  occupied  different  places  of  worship,  the  Universalist 
Church,  the  Mechanics'  Academy,  and  subsequently  a 
building  afterwards  known  as  the  Christian  Chapel.  "In 
the  midst  of  cheer  and  hope,"  a  time  of  "incipient  pros- 
perity," the  church  was  unexpectedly  informed  by  the 
proprietors  of  the  building  they  occupied  at  the  time  that 
it  would  not  be  convenient  longer  to  rent  the  chapel.  The 
next  Sunday  morning  some  of  the  children,  not  knowing 
what  had  been  done,  gathered  around  the  closed  building. 
The  pastor  met  them,  met  their  sad  and  imploring  looks, 
"spoke  words  of  cheer  and  hope,  and  assured  them  that 
an  effort  should  be  made  to  secure  for  them  a  permanent 
place  of  gathering.  But  where,  and  how,  were  questions 
not  so  easily  answered.  The  church  was  too  poor  to  pur- 
chase even  an  eligible  lot  upon  which  to  build."  After 
much  prayer,  and  at  great  sacrifice  upon  the  part  of  the 
pastor  and  his  sick  family,  Mr.  Smith,  in  the  fall  of  1846, 
"went  east  to  solicit  of  personal  friends  and  the  churches 
in  New  York,  funds  to  build  a  church.''  The  effort  was 
remarkably  successful,  exceeding  the  most  sanguine  hope; 
$4,067.89  were  obtained.  The  house  was  built,  41x63  feet, 
and  was  dedicated  November  2,  1848.  The  dedicatory 
sermon  was  preached  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  B.  F.  Brabrook, 


470  HISTOEICAL   SKETCHES. 

and  Rev.  George  J.  Jolinson,  then  just  from  the  state  of 
New  York,  being  present  and  assisting  in  the  services.  A 
beautiful  cut  of  the  house  is  found  in  the  minutes  of  the 
Davenport  Association  for  1852 

Iowa  Baptists  and  EvangelisjM. 

We  have  before  us  as  we  write  a  pamphlet  written  in 
1855  by  Deacon  A.  Wilber  of  Boston,  father  of  Rev.  H.  R. 
Wilber,  one  of  our  pioneer  ministers,  entitled  '•  An  Exami- 
nation of  the  Comparative  Results  of  the  Labors  of  Elder 
Jacob  Knapp,"  in  and  about  Boston.  The  prejudice  against 
Evangelists  was  very  strong  and  the  paper  was  intended 
to  answer  some  of  the  objections  by  showing  that  the  sub- 
sequent life  of  the  churches  vindicated  the  soundness  of 
conversions  and  the  healthfulness  of  revivals.  Iowa  Bap- 
tists from  the  first  have  honored  and  been  in  return  blessed 
b}^  that  among  other  of  the  Ascension  gifts  of  the  risen 
Lord,  ''//e  gave  some  as  evangelists^  Rev.  Jacob  Knapp 
did  some  valuable  work  at  Burlington,  and  perhaps  other 
of  our  Iowa  churches.  But  eternity  alone  will  divulge  how 
many  of  the  reliable  members  of  nearly  all  our  churches, 
in  Southeastern  Iowa  especially,  attribute  their  awakening 
and  conversion  to  the  labors  of  Revs.  Morgan  Edwards, 
Samuel  Pickard,  Wm.  Elliott,  J.  M.  Wood  and  others,  not 
to  speak  of  the  strictly  evangelistic  labors  of  Pastors 
Johnson  and  indeed  all  the  earlier  pastors  in  that  part  of 
the  state,  for  in  the  newer  settlements  more  than  later,  pas- 
tors necessarily  must  obey  the  instruction,  "Do  the  work 
of  an  evangelist,"  and  right  well  they  did  it.  Other 
evangelists.  Revs.  H.  W.  Brown,  A.  P.  Graves  and  wife, 
E.  C.  M.  Burnham,  James  M.  Smith,  and  many  others  in 
the  earlier  days.  Brother  Chubbuck  and  wife,  B.  H. 
Brasted  and  others  more  recently,  have  all  done  much  to 
fill  up  our  churches  with  the  best  material. 


CHAPTER   LII. 


Obituary  Notes — From  Works  to  Rewards — An  Evek- 
Increasing  Record. 


OW  often  have  tliose  words  of  the  poet 
been  repeated  and  applied  to  brighten 
the  otherwise  sombre  aspect  of  those 
scenes  that  separate  between  the  life 
that  now  is  and  that  which  is  to  come. 
They  are  not  worn  out,  but  will  serve  to  introduce  our  me- 
morial of  those,  who  from  making  Baptist  history  in  Iowa, 
have  gone  to  join  the  acclaim  of  those  who  glorify  God  in 
the  better  land, 

'•The  chamber  where  the  good  man  meets  his  fate, 
Is  privileged  above  tlie  common  walks  of  life. 
Quite  on  the  verge  of  Heaven." 

Our  obituary  record  begins  with  1846.  Rev.  Peter 
Robinson  died  at  Marion,  September  1846.  His  death  is 
noticed  on  page  86  of  this  volume.  Rev.  Dexter  P.  Smith, 
says  of  him,  "I  was  associated  with  Brother  Robinson  as 
a  student  in  Madison  University,  and  in  1846  hailed  him 
as  a  fellow  laborer  in  Iowa.  But  while  admiring  his  work 
of  faith  and  brightening  prospects  at  Marion,  the  sum^nons 
came.  It  only  remained  to  comply  with  his  request,  go  to 
Marion  and   preach   his   funeral  sermon,  comfort  the  be- 


472  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

reaved  cliurcli,  accept  the  situation,  be  faithful  unto  death 
and  meet  him  in  glory."  Rev.  D.  Whitmore  died  in  Jack- 
son county  in  1846  but  we  have  no  further  particulars  of 
his  life. 

Rev.  M.  J.  Post  died  in  Pella,  April  2,  1848.  An  ac- 
count of  his  death  from  the  pen  of  his  daughter  is  given 
on  pages  84-5  together  with  an  account  of  his    life. 

Rev,  Wm.  B.  Knapp  of  Charleston  and  his  entire  fam- 
ily, consisting  of  wife  and  two  or^three  children,  died  of 
cholera  in  1849.  The  family  had  entertained  a  stranger 
at  their  home,  who,  either  before  or  immediately  after  leav- 
ing, sickened  and  died  with  the  fatal  disease.  They  had 
entertained  an  angel  unawares  but  it  proved  to  be  the  an- 
gel of  death.  Mr.  Knapp  left  his  home  to  fill  an  appoint- 
ment at  Denmark,  and^while  there  was  attacked  with  the 
cholera  and  died  in  a  few  hours.  About  the  same  time 
death  smote  his  wife  and  one  of  the  children,  and  while  a 
messenger  was  bearing  to  his  home  the  sad  news  of  his 
death,  another  was  on  the  way  to  convey  to  Denmark  the 
sorrowful  tidings  that  he  never  received. 

Mrs.  J.  A.  Nash,  wife  of  Rev.  J.  A.  Nash  of  Des  Moines 
died  in  1851.  In  the  Annual  of  that  year,  after  making 
glad  mention  of  the  coming  of  Brother  Nash  as  a  helper 
in  the  great  work  committed  to  Iowa  Baptists,  it  is  added, 
"Soon  after  his  arrival  he  was  called  to  drink  the  bitter 
cup  of  affliction  in  the  removal  of  his  companion  to  the 
haven  of  eternal  rest.  Those  of  us  who  became  acquainted 
witli  sister  Nash  esteemed  and  loved  her,  and  we  mingle 
the  tear  of  sympathy  with  our  bereaved  brother,  early 
called  to  mourn,  while  yet  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land," 

Rev,  Ira  Blanchard  died  in  California  about  1852. 
He  was  settled  in  Delaware  county,  Iowa,  as  early  as  1844. 
He  was  instrumental  in  organizing  the  church  at  Cascade 


OF   lOVVA    BAPTISTS.  473 

and  labored  there  and  in  Delaware  county  until  1850, 
when  he  went  to  the  Pacific  coast  where  he  died.  He 
organized  the  first  Delaware  Church  Delaware  county  in 
1844.  Morgan.  A  minister  by  the  name  of  Morgan  died 
in  Bellevue  in  1852,  but#)tliing  further  is  known  of  him. 

Rev.  B.  F.  Bra  brook  died  at  Davenport  June  9,  1853, 
Born  at  Acton.  Massachusetts,  September  15, 1809,  baptized 
in  1829;  graduated  at  Columbia  College.  D.  C,.  and  studied 
theology  at  Xewton  Theological  Seminary.  He  was  or- 
dained April  19,  1837,  and  immediately  started  for  St. 
Louis,  where  he  labored  until  his  health  failed  and  he  was 
compelled  to  return  east.  In  1843  he  engaged  as  agent  of 
Foreign  Missions  in  the  Western  States.  He  visited  Iowa, 
and  on  the  day  he  entered  the  state  said,  "To-day,  for  the 
first  time  my  feet  press  the  soil  of  Iowa,  and  beneath  its 
sod  my  bones  may  rest.''  In  1845  he  settled  as  pastor  at 
Davenport,  and  afterward,  upon  the  failure  of  his  eyes, 
entered  the  agency  of  the'Home  Mission  Society.  He  was 
continuous!}^  under  appointment  of  this  society  from  1846 
till  1852.  "As  a  christian,  a  pastor  and  an  agent  Brother 
Brabrook  was  pious,  devoted,  talented  and  beloved.  The 
infiuence  of  his  labors  will  long  be  felt  in  Iowa,  and  the 
record  of  tliem  is  in  heaven." 

Rev.  a.  Russell  Belden  died  of  cholera  in  Iowa  City 
in  1855.  Mr.  Belden  came  from  New  York  in  1851  and  was 
successor  of  Dexter  P.  Smith  as  pastor  at  Iowa  City.  Af- 
ter a  pastorate  of  less  than  three  years  he  "conceived  the 
idea  of  founding  an  orphan  college  in  that  city.  A  site 
was  secured  and  a  foundation  laid,  when  death  suddenly 
called  him  away.  A  list  of  ministers  who  died  in  1855 
also  contains  the  names  of  W.  S.  Ba?'ne.s',  J.  McKaln  and 
W.  T.  Martin,  but  without  particulars. 

Rev.  George  I.  Miles  died  at  Muscatine,  Iowa,  in  No- 


474  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

vember,  1857,  having  been  pastor  of  the  church  there  only  a 
little  more  than  a  year.  One  who  had  known  him  well  in 
Pennsylvania  wrote:  "Brother  Miles  was  extensively  known 
to  the  denomination  for  his  sterlino-  piety,  and  as  a  zealous 
and  successful  minister  of  the  cross.  "  *'  A  prominent 
actor  in  all  the  benevolent  operations  of  the  day,  his  pres- 
ence and  counsels  were  sought  in  the  convocations  of  the 
denomination  in  the  east."  His  coming  to  our  State  was 
hailed  with  joy.  But  alas  !  "In  the  midst  of  his  useful- 
ness he  was  cut  down  and  his  active,  lively  and  eloquent 
tongue  lay  motionless  and  still  in  death." 

Rev.  a.  Thompson  died  in  the  Eden  Association  in 
1859,  He  was  ordained  in  Indiana  in  1847,  and  came  to 
Iowa  in  1848  and  located  in  the  new  and  destitute  region 
southwest  of  the  Des  Moines  River.  In  1857  he  was  ap- 
pointed Missionary  of  the  Eden  Association  and  the  State 
Convention,  and  labored  with  gr.eat  success,  baptizing  with- 
in the  year '"  not  less  than  ninety-nine  converts  with  his 
own  hands." 

Rev.  N.  Richmond,  also  of  the  Eden  Association, 
died  in  1859.  He  removed  from  Indiana  to  this  State 
three  years  before  his  death.  He  preached  in  the 
midst  of  man}-^  privations,  to  several  churches,  "  with  a 
good  degree  of  success."  Rev.  —  Hewson  died  in  the 
Iowa  Valley  Association  some  time  in  1859.  He  had  re- 
cently come  from  Illinois  and  settled  on  a  farm,  and  after 
preaching  to  one  of  the  churches  with  much  acceptance  for 
a  few  weeks  "  was  stricken  down  with  sickness  and  sum- 
moned away."  Rev.  S.  B.  Baker  died  near  Winterset, 
April  25.  1859.  He  had  removed  from  Indiana  to  Iowa 
some  four  or  five  years  before.  Was  regularly  ordained  to 
the  work  of  the  ministry  only  about  a  3^ear  before  his  death, 
though  he  had  preached  more  or  less  for  many  years. 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  475 

Rev.  Petek  Colgrove  died  near  Fairbank,  Fayette 
county,  Iowa,  August  1,  1860,  after  a  sickness  of  only  two 
days.  He  was  born  in  Tompkins  county,  New  York,  June 
10,  1817.  United  with  the  Baptist  church  at  Mecklenburg 
at  the  age  of  16,  entered  the  institution  at  Hamilton  June 
27,  18B4,  and  completed  their  full  course  of  study.  He  was 
ordained  at  Mecklenburg  August  25,  1841.  He  labored 
with  a  number  of  churches  in  his  native  state,  and  received 
to  their  membership  about  three  hundred  souls.  He  came 
with  his  family  to  Fayette  county,  Iowa,  in  1859.  "As  a 
counselor,  judicious  and  safe;  as  ^  preacher,  instructive 
and  sometimes  thrilling ;  as  a  man,  a  christian  and  a  min- 
ister, upright  and  dignified."'  He  was  "just  su(th  a  man  as 
is  needed  in  every  new  settlement,  and  greatly  missed  by 
the  whole  community." 

Rev.  J.  R.  Dean  died  August  19,  1860.  He  was  a  gradu- 
ate ot  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Kalamazoo,  Michigan. 
He  came  to  Iowa  in  1857  and  first  settled  as  pastor  at  New 
Hartford,  where  he  baptized  27,  and  the  church  increased 
from  11  to  50.  He  preached  also  at  Shell  Rock  and  inter- 
mediate points  with  marked  success,  especially  in  revival 
work.  In  the  spring  of  1860,  with  impaired  health,  he  went 
to  Pike's  Peak,  "hoping  to  regain  his  health  and  be  useful 
in  helping  to  cast  society  in  that  vicinity  in  a  religious 
mould.'-  But  God  ordered  it  otherwise,  and  he  was  taken 
to  join  the  heavenly  throng  in  the  mount  of  eternal  glory. 

Rev.  Zophor  Ball  died  near  Knoxville,  Iowa,  August 
19,  1860,  the  same  day  that  Brother  Dean  passed  away. 
Nothiug  is  known  of  this  brother  further  than,  it  is  said, 
"He  was  an  ordained  minister  and  had  labored  faithfully 
for  many  years,  mainly  at  his  own  charges." 

Sister  Elizabeth  S.  Aitchison,  wife  of  Rev.  J.  Y. 
Aitchison,  died  in  October,  1860.     Her  maiden  name  was 


476  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Frazee.  She  was  born  in  Scotch  Plains,  New  Jersey.  She 
was  baptized  in  Davenport  by  Rev.  E.  M.  Miles,  about  1854. 
Was  married  about  1857.  "Had  lived  for  six  years  a 
highly  consistent  christian  life,  and  for  three  years  and 
eight  months  a  loving  spouse  and  helpmeet  to  her  now  be- 
reaved husband."  Her  end  was  peace. 

Deacon  John  Scott  died  at  Bonaparte  in  March,  1861. 
His  known  integrity  and  zeal  as  a  member  of  the  Mt. 
Zion  Church  (Bonaparte)  made  for  him  a  cherished  place 
in  the  annals  of  that  church  and  in  the  hearts  of  all  who 
knew  him.  His  pastor.  Rev.  W.  A.  Eggleston,  wrote,  "He 
died  with  a  good  hope  through  grace,  and  the  last  of  earth 
was  peace."    He  was  about  60  years  old. 

Rev.  Abraham  Smock  of  Davis  county,  died  at  Camp 
McClellan  in  the  spring  of  1863,  of  disease  contracted  in 
the  army.  A  full  notice  of  this  brother  will  be  found  on 
page  149,  in  the  history  of  the  Fox  River  Association. 
Rev.  D.  T.  Case  of  Bethlehem,  Wayne  county,  died  in 
1863.  He  was  in  the  fatal  charge  on  the  intrenchments  of 
Vicksburg,  May  22,  1863,  and  escaped  unhurt,  but  died  a 
few  months  later  at  a  railroad  station  almost  in  sight  of 
friends,  on  his  way  home.  He  died  of  disease  contracted 
in  the  army.  He  was  "a  young  brother,  with  his  ministe- 
rial vows  fresh  upon  him,  and  giving  much  promise  of  use- 
fulness." Rev.  Jonah  Todu  died  near  Dodgeville,  Des 
Moines  county,  May  12,  1863.  He  was  the  Moderator  at  its 
organization,  of  the  Des  Moines  Association,  and  conse- 
quently the  first  to  occupy  that  position  in  a  Baptist  As- 
sociation in  Iowa.  Rev.  Mr.  Pratt  of  Onawa,  entered  the 
army  and  was  found  dead  in  the  streets  of  Helena,  sup- 
posed to  have  been  assassinated.  No  particulars.  ■  Dea. 
Chamberlain  of  the  Burlington  Church,  died  November 
12,  1863. 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  477 

Dp:a.  Toogoou  of  Marion  died  at  the  Toogood  Settle- 
ment, and  Deacons  Hutchinson  and  Whitney  of  the 
Palo  Church  died  in  the  army,  all  in  1863  Also  Deacon 
C.  W.  FoitHES  of  the  Van  Buren  Church,  Jackson  county, 
died  in  camp  near  Vicksburg.' 

Deacon  Henky  A.  Ritnek  of  Danville,  son  of  Ex-Gov- 
ernor Ritner  of  Pennsylvania,  one  of  the  founders  of  our 
State  Convention  and  a  prominent  man  in  the  denomina- 
tion, was  killed  on  the  railroad  by  a  singular  accident  in 
April,  1863.  He  had  sons  in  the  army  and  had  been  at 
Burlington,  as  we  remember  the  circumstance,  to  see  some- 
thing about  sending  them  some  reliefer  token  of  affection. 
He  was  walking  on  the  track,  and  being  a  little  deaf,  and 
perhaps  lost  in  abstracted  thought,  a  train  struck  him 
from  behind  and  lie  was  killed. 

Deacon  A.  Fishek,  of  the  Brighton  Church,  died  in  the 
spring  of  1863.  "Father  Fisher"  will  be  remembered  as 
long  as  any  live  who  knew  him,  for  his  intense  devotion  to 
the  church  he  loved.  (See  page  297.)  Sister  Lucy  Bra- 
BKOOK,  widow  of  Rev.  B.  F.  Brabrook,  died  at  Davenport 
in  May,  1863.  A  noble,  earnest  christian  woman,  a  helper 
in  every  good  work.  Lieut.  Samuel  Bates,  21st  Regi- 
ment Iowa  Volunteers,  son  of  Rev.  John  Bates,  "was  mor- 
tally wounded  on  the  memorable  22nd  of  May,  1863  at 
Vicksburg,  and  died  in  a  few  days."     (See  page  203.) 

Rev.  John  M.  Coggshall  died  at  Little  Rock,  Arkan- 
sas, October  29,  1863.  Born  in  Bristol,  R.  I.,  December  29, 
1820,  converted  at  18  and  united  with  the  Baptist  Church 
at  Troy,  Penn.  He  studied  at  Madison  University,  and 
was  ordained  in  June,  1843.  He  served  as  pastor  success- 
ively of  churches  in  Pennsylvania,  New  York,  Illinois  and 
Iowa,  and  then  entered  the  army  as  cliaplain  of  the  1st 
Iowa  Cavalry,  where  he  gave  up  his  valuable  life  for  his 


478  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

country  and  his   God,  leaving   an   afflicted  widow  and    six 
children. 

Rev.  a.  a.  Sawin  died  of  small  pox  at  West  Irving  in 
the  summer  of  1864.  He  was  born  at  West  Minister,  Mass- 
achusetts, and  dedicated  himself  to  the  christian  ministry 
in  his  youth.  He  showed  marks  of  great  earnestness  and 
more  than  ordinary  ability.  He  preached  at  Ticonderoga, 
then  in  Vermont,  afterwards  at  Stillwater,  N.  Y.,  at  Fulton, 
111.,  Lyons,  Iowa,  and  at  Marion,  Iowa.  From  Marion  he 
removed  to  Benton  county  and  threw  himself  with  all 
the  characteristic  earnestness  of  his  nature  into  the  enter- 
prise of  establishing  the  Addison  Collegiate  Tnstiiute  at 
West  Irving.  He  was  Acting  pastor  at  the  time  of  his 
death  of  the  Toledo  Church  where  he  "was  buried  among 
an  attached  and  mourning  Hock.-' 

Rev.  James  Parker  died  at  Avon,  Iowa,  early  in  1864. 
He  was  born  in  Kentucky,  but  his  parents  removed  to 
Ohio  when  he  was  about  4  years  old.  He  was  converted 
at  the  age  of  20  under  the  labors  of  Rev.  J.  L.  Moore.  Was 
ordained  about  12  years  before  his  death,  and  preached  in 
Washington  and  Van  Buren  counties.  He  then  moved  to 
Pella  and  labored  for  two  or  three  years  with  great  activity 
and  energy  with  churches  in  the  Central  Association.  In 
1863  37  were  baptized  at  Vandalia,  and  the  next  winter  at 
Hartford,  Carlisle  and  Avon  79  as  the  result  of  a  great  re- 
vival under  his  labors.  ''Worn  down  with  excessive  labors 
he  was  taken  sick  at  Avon  and  died." 

Deacon  Elihu  Ives  died  near  Marion,  September  12, 
1864,  aged  77.  He  had  been  a  resident  of  Linn  county 
since  1839,  and  a  member  of  the  Marion  Baptist  Church 
from  its  organization.  "A  man  of  deep  toned  piety  and 
uprightness,  though  an  active  member  of  the  church  he 
shown  brightest  in  the  exemplification  of  the  christian  life 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  479 

in  his  daily  deportment."  Mrs.  Williams,  wife  of  Rev. 
John  Williams,  one  of  the  early  Missionaries  of  the  Con- 
vention died  also  in  1864.  Dk.  A.  W.  Everett  died  in  the 
Eden  Association  in  1864.  He  practiced  medicine  and 
preached  as  occasion  offered. 

Rev.  Isaac  Christie,  also  of  the  Eden  Association, 
died  in  1865  at  the  age  of  about  60  years.  He  labored  some 
years  in  Indiana,  and  afterwards  removed  to  Missouri, 
where  he  had  a  good  farm  and  preached  to  the  surrounding- 
churches.  ''In  the  fall  of  1860  he  voted  for  Mr.  Lincoln 
for  president,  and  was  soon  afterward  notified  to  leave  the 
county  or  his  life  would  be  taken.-'  HeAwas  an  earnest 
and  faithful  pastor  and  a  devoted  christian. 

Rev.  Luther  Holmes  of  Monmouth  died  in  April,  1865, 
of  congestion  of  the  lungs,  in  his  70th  year.  He  was  the 
father  of  Rev.  O.  A.  Holmes,  one  of  the  most  successful 
pastors  in  Iowa  for  many  years.  For  further  particulars 
see  pages  204-5  of  this  volume.  Rev.  Lyman  Carpenter 
died  in  California  June  27,  1865.  Brother  Carpenter  was 
pastor  of  the  church  at  Blue  Grass,  Scott  county,  from  12 
to  15  years.  He  was  ordained  there  in  1846,  Rev.  B.  F. 
Brabrook  preaching  the  sermon.  He  went  to  California 
only  a  few  years  before  his  death. 

Rev.  a.  H.  Harris  died  at  Vinton,  Iowa,  November  26, 
1865,  aged  only  38  years.  He  was  ordained  in  Michigan 
about  1860,  and  came  to  Iowa  perhaps  in  1863.  He  took 
charge  of  the  Vinton  Church  in  February  1865,  but  after  a 
painful  illness  of  six  weeks,  fell  asleep  in  Jesus  and  went 
to  his  reward."  "He  was  retiring,  modest  and  unassum- 
ing, yet  firm  and  unswerving  as  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ. 
A  man  of  strong  faith,  in  his  preaching  plain,  direct  and 
searching,  the  great  burden  of  his  heart  was  the  salvation 
of  souls  and  the  building  up  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom." 


480  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Rev.  Hezekiah  Johnson  died  at  Oregon  City,  Oregon, 
in  August,  1866  He  was  born  in  Maryland,  March  6,  1799, 
"  the  son  of  Rev.  Eleazer  Johnson  and  Martha  Rounds." 
He  was  ordained  in  Highland  county,  Ohio,  in  1824,  and 
was  pastor  at  Frankfort  and  Greenfield  in  that  state.  In 
1889  he  was  one  of  the  first  three  missionaries  appointed 
by  the  Home  Mission  Society  to  the  Territory  of  Iowa,  and 
labored  as  an  itinerant  until  1844,  assisting  in  organizing 
some  of  the  first  churches  and  Associations  in  the  state. " 
In  1845  he  went  with  Rev.  Ezra  Fisher  to  Oregon.  He  or- 
ganized the  church  at  Oregon  City  and  labored  there  under 
appointment  of  the  Society  from  1847  to  '51.  "He  traveled 
preached,  helped  to  organize  churches  and  Associations 
and  lay  the  foundations  of  religious  and  educational  insti- 
tutions in  the  new  state.  He  also  wrote  and  published 
many  sermons  and  pamphlets,  completing  the  last  on  his 
death-bed.  He  was  one  of  the  strongest  Baptist  preachers 
in  the  early  days  of  Oregon,"  as  he  had  been  of  Iowa. 
Over  his  grave  and  that  of  his  faitliful  wife  is  placed  a 
memorial  stone  with  the  simple  inscription,  '"Pioneer  Bap- 
tist Missionaries. "  He  was  the  father  of  Rev.  Franklin 
Johnson,  D.  D.,  of  Cambridge,  Mass. 

Mrs.  Harriett  R.  Wedoewood,  wife  of  Rev.  J.  M. 
Wedgewood  of  the  Turkey  River  Association,  died  Sep- 
tember 21,  1860.  Also  the  helmwA  loife  of  Rev.  John  Ful- 
ton at  Independence,  March  18,  1866,  and  the  wife  of  Bei\ 
A.  W.  Russell,  some  time  in  June  after  a  lingering  illness. 
Rev,  a.  H.  Starkweather,  of  Lyons,  died,  much  lament- 
ed, Januar}^  17,  1867,  preceded  by  his  excellent  wife  not 
quite  tliree  months.  He  was  a  "graduate  of  Madison  Uni- 
versity and  served  the  churches  at  Corning  and  Bethany, 
New  York."  He  came  west  in  1855  and  located  in  Fulton, 
Illinois,  and  in  1858  crossed  the  river  and  began  work  in 
Lyons,  Iowa,  where  he  continued  almost  eight  years.    Mrs. 


or    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  481 

Starkweather  was  born  at  Bethany,  New  York;  daughter 
of  Deacon  Burroughs.  "She  was  a  fond  wife,  and  especial- 
ly a  good  minister's  wife."  The}^  left  two  lovelj"  daugli- 
ters  who  were  "graciously  cared  for  in  the  Jiome  of  their 
uncle,  George  Starkweather,  at  Albion.  New  York."  Rev. 
James  Kay,  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Cascade,  died 
at  that  place  July  4,  1867.  Born  in  Westmoreland,  in  the 
North  of  England,  he  was  converted  in  early  manhood,  and 
was  for  a  time  on  the  City  Mission  Staff  of  Manchester. 
See  further  notice  on  page  207. 

Rev.  JoiM  Jackson  died  at  McGregor,  Iowa,  in  1867. 
He  was  born  in  England.  About  1852  he  became  pastor  of 
the  English  Baptist  church  at  Agra,  East  Indies,  and  con- 
tinued five  years.  His  health  becoming  impaired  he  left 
Asia  and  came  to  America.  He  was  for  six  years  pastor 
of  the  West  Baptist  church  at  Milwaukee,  and  then  re- 
moved to  McGregor,  Iowa.  After  serving  one  3'ear  as 
pastor  of  the  church  here  he  went  back  to  India  and  settled 
at  Alahabad.  But  feeble  health  soon  led  him  to  return  to 
this  country  and  to  the  bosom  of  his  friends  at  McGregor, 
where  he  "peacefully  departed  this  life  to  enter  into  the 
joy  of  his  Lord."  His  friends  at  Milwaukee  claimed  the 
honor  of  his  remains  and  he  was  buried  at  that  place. 

Rev.  Hazzaud  Green  of  Jacksonville  died  Januar}^  6, 
1867.  "His  sickness  was  protracted  and  severe,  yet  he 
bore  it  with  fortitude  and  resignation,  His  end  was  joy- 
ous and  triumphant."  "For  several  years  he  had  been  an 
honored  minister  of  the  gospel  in  this  state."  Rev.  Wm. 
McEwEN  of  Fremont  was  suddenly  called  home  on  the  5th 
of  February,  1867,  at  the  close  of  a  successful  revival  effort. 
He  was  a  warm  hearted,  zealous  laborer  in  the  vineyard  of 
the  Lord,  and  respected  and  loved  by  those  who  knew  him. 

Deacon  Geokge  M.  Colgate  of  McGregor  died  full  of 


482  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

faith  and  good  works.  He  was  clerk  of  the  Turkey  River 
Association  for  several  years,  and  was  an  unusually  intel- 
ligent and  devoted  christian  and  church  member.  See 
page  338.  Brother  Colgate  was  converted  when  thirteen 
years  of  age  and  baptized  by  the  late  Wm.  R.  Williams, 
D.  D.,  being  the  first  candidate  baptized  into  the  fellow- 
ship of  the  Amity  Street  Baptist  Church  of  New  York 
City,  of  which  Dr.  Williams  remained  pastor  until  his 
death,  over  fifty  years.  Mrs.  Susan  E.  Wilber  died  at  Cedar 
Rapids  in  December,  1867.  The  wife  of  Rev.  H.  R.  Wilber, 
she  was  the  daughter  of  Prof.  D.  Knowles.  She  consecrated 
herself  to  the  cause  of  Home  Missions,  and  cheerfully  en- 
dured the  privations  and  made  the  sacrifices  incidental  to 
her  position  as  the  devoted  wife  and  helpmeet  of  a  pastor 
of  new  and  struggling  churches. 

Rev.  a.  F.  Willey  died  at  Oskaloosa  April  4,  1868. 
He  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1830,  and  while  quite  young 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Texas,  and  subsequently  to 
Illinois.  He  was  baptized  by  Rev.  A.  J.  Joslyn  of  Elgin, 
graduated  from  the  University  of  Rochester  in  the  class 
of  1858,  and  from  the  Theological  Seminary  in  1860,  and 
in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  settled  as  pastor  at  Burlington, 
Iowa.  Here  he  was  ordained  and  remained  as  pastor  four 
years.  His  ministry  at  Burlington  was  greatly  blessed 
until  his  health  failed  under  his  exhaustive  labors.  He 
was  afterwards  the  first  pastor  of  the  church  at  Marshall- 
town,  where  he  labored  fifteen  months.  Still  more  enfeebled 
he  spent  a  year  in  the  country  in  Missouri.  Though  but 
partially  restored  he  was  unable  to  content  himself  out  of 
the  work  of  his  love.  He  settled  with  the  church  at  Os- 
kaloosa. Here  he  preached  his  last  sermon  in  February, 
1868,  from  the  text  Psalm  xxxvii:37,  '"Mark  the  perfect 
man,  and  behold  the  upright,  for  the  end  of  that  man  is 
peace."    It  was  a  wonderful  sermon.     Many  who  heard  it 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  483 

said,  ''He  has  preached  his  own  funeral."  He  himself  said 
to  his  wife  on  entering  his  home,  "Carrie,  I  have  preached 
my  last  sermon.''  But  he  said  to  a  friend,  during  his  last 
sickness,  "I  rejoice  to  die  at  the  front." 

Rev.  R.  D.  C.  Herring  died  in  March,  1868,  at  the  age 
of  70.  He  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and  spent  most  of  his 
life  in  Indiana.  He  came  to  Iowa  about  1865,  and  preached 
in  Boone  and  Story  counties.  He  administered  baptism  on 
the  Sabbath  and  died  the  Wednesday  after.  Rev.  AVm. 
RuTLEDGE  died  at  LeClaire,  October  27,  1868.  Born  in 
England  August  19,  1804;  he  rendered  excellent  service  in 
London  in  the  Temperance  Cause,  and  as  a  lay-preacher  in 
Essex  county.  He  came  to  America  in  1845  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  was  ordained  in  Philadelphia.  He  came  to 
Davenport  in  1847  as  a  Colporteur  of  the  American  Baptist 
Publication  Society.  He  was  pastor  of  the  churches  at  Le- 
Claire and  Princeton,  Iowa,  and  Cordova  and  Port  Byron, 
Illinois,  laboring  in  this  vicinity  for  twenty-two  years.  He 
preached  his  last  sermon  October  18,  and  died  just  nine 
days  later,  in  his  sixty-fifth  year. 

Rev.  Marion  Hazen,  pastor  at  Parker's  Grove,  died  in 
1868  or  '69  "soon  after  the  meeting  of  the  Linn  Associa- 
tion." He  was  converted  at  an  early  age  in  Indiana  and 
began  preaching  before  he  was  twenty  years  old.  In  the 
spring  of  1867  he  settled  at  Shellsburg.  Modest  and  un- 
pretending he  was  yet  full  of  the  spirit  of  the  Master,  and 
was  owned  of  God  in  the  conversion  of  many  souls.  He 
was  eminently  pious,  and  died  sweetly  trusting  in  Jesus, 
committing  his  companion  and  little  ones  to  the  covenant- 
keeping  God.  His  memor3^  is  fragrant  with  the  perfume  of 
good  deeds  and  a  Christ-like  spirit.  He  has  a  son  now  in 
the  ministry. 

Rev.  Phineas  Inskeep  died  September   16,  1869.     He 


484  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

was  bom  in  Ohio,  December  31,  1812,  converted  at  the  age 
of  twelve,  and  ordained  as  a  Methodist  minister  at  21.  In 
1839  he  became  convinced  that  immersion  was  the  only 
christian  baptism  and  was  immersed  but  remained  in  the 
Methodist  connection  until  1859  when  he  united  with  the 
Baptist  church  an^-.was  ordained  at  New  Boston,  Lee 
county,  April  28,  1861.  He  was  pastor  at  Charleston,  at 
Bonaparte,  and  perhaps  some  other  churches,  and  was  war- 
den of  the  Penitentiary  at  Foi-t  Madison.  He  had  also 
been  a  member  of  the  Legislatures  of  Ohio  and  Iowa. 
"Those  who  attended  him  in  his  last  sickness,  witness  to 
his  triumphant  death  in  hope  of  a  glorious  immortality." 

Rev.  G.  G.  Edwards  of  Toledo,  died  in  1809.  He  came 
to  Iowa  in  1855  and  organized  the  ■  Toledo  Church.  "He 
was  a  faithful  minister  of  Christ,  and  active  in  all  that 
pertains  to  the  work  of  the  Lord."  He  was  an  ardent  sup- 
porter of  the  anti  slavery  sentiment  and  of  the  American 
Baptist  Free  Mission  Society  in  its  day,  also  of  work  among 
the  Freedmen.  He  was  a  Missionary  of  the  Convention 
and  though  in  great  weakness,  labored  at  Belle  Plaine  and 
West  Irving  the  last  year  of  his  life.  He  had  a  burning 
zeal  to  preach  the  gospel  as  long  as  he  had  breath  and 
could  stand  upon  his  feet. 

Rev.  Hamilton  Samson  died  at  Palo  in  March  1870. 
He  was  pastor  at  Maquoi^eta  in  1864  and  remained  two 
years;  afterwards  at  Mt.  Vernon  and  other  places  in  the 
Linn  Association.  He  was  one  "often  seen  in  our  annual 
gatherings  and  whom  to  meet  was  always  a  pleasure." 

Rev.  Timothy  R.  Cresset  died  at  Des  Moines,  August 
30,  1870.  He  was  born  at  Pomfret,  Conn.,  September  18, 
1800.  Converted  at  twenty,  graduated  from  Amherst  Col- 
lege in  1828  and  from  Newton  Theological  Seminary  in 
1830.     He  was   pastor,   first   at   Hingham,   Massachusetts, 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  485 

three  and  one-half  years,  and  then  went  to  South  Boston. 
While  in  college  he  liad  solemnly  dedicated  himself  to 
Home  Missions,  and  in  1835  began  Home  Mission  work  in 
the  great  west  by  becoming  pastor  at  Columbus,  Ohio, 
where  he  remained  seven  years,  and  built  the  church  edi- 
fice now  in  use.  Here  he  lost  his  first%^ife,  Mary  Peck,  and 
married  Josephine,  daughter  of  Rev.  Jonathan  Going,  who 
survived  him  a  number  of  years.  He  was  two  years  pas- 
tor of  the  First  Church,  Cincinnati,  and  then  a  like  time 
Agent  of  the  Bible  Society  for  Ohio,  Kentucky  and  Indiana. 
In  July,  184G,  he  became  pastor  of  First  Baptist  Churcli, 
Indianapolis.  Here  he  remained  six  years  and  secured  the 
erection  of  a  meeting  house  seating  40U,  with  Sabbath 
School  rooms,  etc.  He  was  the  third  minister  to  enter  the 
Territory  of  Minnesota,  May,  1852,  and  became  pastor 
of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  St.  Paul.  He  was  pastor  two 
years  here  and  then  "Home  Mission  work  began  in  earnest." 
Journeying  on  foot,  sometimes  walking  adozen  miles  with- 
out seeing  a  human  being.  Seven  years  were  mainly  em- 
ployed in  such  work,  preaching  the  first  sermon  ever  heard 
in  many  a  place  and  ''having  much  to  do  with  the  organi- 
zation of  not  a  few  churches."  Riding  on  horseback  in  the 
rigors  of  the  Minnesota  winters,  preaching  in  log  cabins, 
"all  appointments  were  sacredly  kept."  In  August,  1861, 
he  became  chaplain  of  the  2d  Minnesota  A^olunteers  and 
spent  two  years  in  the  service.  He  was  then  pastor  two 
years  at  Kendallville,  Indiana,  preached  at  Plainfield  and 
Olney,  Illinois,  and  in  1868  removed  and  became  pastor  at 
Indianola,  Iowa.  In  1870  he  removed  to  Des  Moines.  He 
had  accepted  an  appointment  as  "Railroad  Missionary" 
to  begin  labor  the  first  of  September,  but  on  the  31st  of 
August  he  was  suddenly  taken  ill,  and  soon  after  uttered 
his  last  and  memorable  words,  ''My  work  is  done;  I  am  go- 
in":  home." 


486  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Rev.  John  Trevitt  died  at  Bonaparte  in  1872.  He 
had  been  pastor  for  several  years  at  West  Point,  Iowa,  and 
at  Bonaparte  Just  before  Lis  death.  He  was  a  good  man 
and  left  an  excellent  record.  Rev.  Edwin  Eaton,  D.  D., 
died  at  Lagrange,  Mo.,  May  10,  1872,  aged  54  years.  He 
had  been  pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Muscatine, 
president  of  the  Iowa  Baptist  State  Convention  and  of  the 
Union  for  Ministerial  Education  for  the  first  three  years  of 
its  existence.  "  When  choosing  his  life  work,  under  clear 
and  forcible  convictions  of  duty,  he  abandoned  the  study 
of  law  and  the  prospects  of  worldly  position  and  fame,  for 
the  ministry."  He  spent  28  j^ears  in  his  chosen  pursuit. 
Inconsequence  of  failing  health  he  resigned  the  care  of 
the  church  at  Muscatine,  hoping  that  rest  and  the  genial 
influence  of  a  milder  climate  might  restore  his  exhausted 
energies.  But  soon  the  Master's  voice  was  heard  saying, 
"Come  up  higher."  "  He  was  extensively  known  in  Ohio, 
Michigan  and  Iowa  as  an  able  and  successful  minister,  a 
faithful  pastor,  a  thorough  scholar  and  an  earnest  advocate 
for  an  enlightened  ministry."  "As  a  man  and  a  citizen  he 
commanded,  in  an  eminent  degree,  the  confidence  and  re- 
spect of  the  community  in  which  he  lived." 

Brother  Daniel  Johns  was  drowned  in  the  Missis- 
sippi at  Comanche,  July  13,  1872.  He  was  a  student  in 
the  Chicago  University  and  in  the  Theological  Seminary, 
and  was  supplying  the  church  at  Comanche.  They 
deeply  felt  his  loss.  A  native  of  Wales,  he  commenced 
preaching  in  that  country,  but  coming  to  this  country  he 
had  entered  the  institutions  above  named,  and  was  n  ear 
completing  his  course. 

In  the  Keokuk  Association  in  1873,  Deacon  Jonathan 
Swan  and  Father  Bristow,  of  the  Denmark  church,-  and 
Father   George  Moore  of  Charleston  all  passed  away. 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  487 

Deacon  Swan  was  a  constituent  member  of  the  Denmark 
Church,  and  also  the  last  survivino;  constituent  member  of 
the  church  in  Massachusetts  from  which  he  came.  He  had 
lived  a  christian  over  half  a  century.  Father  Bristow  was 
the  father  of  P.  S.  Bristow,  Esq..  of  Des  Moines,  well 
known  about  the  capital.  Father  Moore  had  followed  the 
f^'ood  Shepherd  for  73  years. 

Rev.  Ezra  Fisher  died  at  The  Dalles,  Oregon,  Novem- 
ber 1,  1874.  He  was  born  at  Wendel,  Mass.,  January  6, 18U0, 
'•when  Baptists  were  sufferino;  much  persecution  in  that 
state  by  the  established  church."  He  was  converted  at  18, 
and  after  many  struggles  to  obtain  an  education  graduated 
from  Newton  Theological  Seminary  in  1829,  and  was  or- 
dained January  17,  1830.  He  was  pastor  one  year  at 
Cambridge  and  two  years  at  Springfield,  Vermont,  and  was 
very  successful  in  both  places,  baptizing  at  the  latter  80 
persons.  He  was  sent  by  the  Home  Mission  Society,  near 
the  close  of  1832,  to  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  one  of  the  first 
three  missionaries  to  that  state.  This  was  the  first  work 
of  the  society,  and  41  missionaries  in  all  were  commissioned 
that  year,  including  two  general  agents.  He  remained  at 
Indianapolis  something  over  two  years,  and  in  1836  is 
found  at  Quincy,  111.,  where  he  remains, three  or  four  years. 
In  1840  he  was  commissioned  by  the  Society  to  Scott  and 
Muscatine  counties,  Iowa.  He  was  very  active  in  our  Iowa 
work  in  the  years  1841  to  1844-5,  when  he  crossed  the 
plains  and  was  probably  the  first  Baptist  minister  to  enter 
Oregon.  In  1846  he  organized  the  first  Baptist  church 
west  of.  the  Rocky  Mountains,  in  Washington  county 
Oregon.  In  1847  he  and  Hezekiah  Johnson  were  the  first 
two  missionaries  of  the  Home  Mission  Society  on  the  Pa- 
cific Slope.  He  remained  as  missionary  of  the  Society  at 
Astoria  and  Oregon  City  until  1852,  when  he  became 
General  Agent  for  Oregon  Territory.     He  had  special  gifts 


488  HISTORICAL  sketches 

for  teaching,  and  at  one  time  toolv  charge  of  the  Baptist 
school  at  Oregon  City,  out  of  which  grew  the  college  at 
McMinnville.  He  continued,  however,  in  pastoral  and 
missionary  work  until  October  1874,  when  he  preached  his 
last  sermon. 

The  Beloved  Wife  of  Rev.  James  Hill  of  Cascade 
departed  this  life  March  12,  1874.  She  was  much  esteemed 
and  universally  lamented.  Also  in  1875  the  church  at 
Maquoketa  lamented  the  removal  by  death  of  the  beloved 
wife  of  their  pastor,  Rev.  N.  F.  Hovt. 

Rev.  John  Bates  died  in  Canada,  May  8,  1875,  aged  70 
years.  He  was  born  in  Bugbrook,  Northamptonshire, 
England,  January  26,  1805.  Baptized  December  25,  1829, 
into  the  fellowship  of  the  Eagle  Church,  Rev.  Joseph  Irv- 
ing, pastor.  He  early  '"turned  his  thoughts  towards  the 
christian  ministiy,  intending  to  go  out  as  a  missionary 
among  the  colored  people  of  the  West  Indies."  Not  car- 
rying out  this  purpose,  he  afterwards  decided  to  enter  the 
service  of  the  Baptist  Irish  Society  to  work  among  the  Ro- 
man Catholics  of  Ireland.  He  was  appointed  by  that  body 
in  1833  and  labored  at  Ballina,  Sligo,  and  other  localities. 
At  Ballina  where  he  continued  for  nine  years,  he  baptized 
60  persons,  the  fruit  of  missionary  toil.  He  was  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Baptist  Irish  Society  in  all,  seventeen  years. 
He  came  to  America  in  1850  and  settled  in  Cascade,  where 
his  efficient  labors  are  noticed  in  these  Sketches.  In  this 
state  he  "came  to  be  recognized  as  a  power,  and  his  coun- 
sels in  Association  and  Convention  were  most  carefully 
weighed."  He  removed  to  Canada  in  1S64  and  became 
pastor  of  the  church  at  Duiidas.  In  1867  he  removed  to 
AVoodstock  and  became  identified  with  the  interests  of  the 
Canadian  Literary  Institute  located  there.  He  was  also 
for  six  years  pastor  of  tlu^  cliurch  at   AVoodstock   and   re- 


REV.  A.  G.  EBEKHART. 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  489 

ceived  into  its  fellowship  by  baptism  and  letter  211  per- 
sons. Hero  lio  consecrated  two  of  his  daughters  to  the 
Foreign  Mission  work.  Mr.  Bates  was  truly  a  man  of 
great  power  and  ardent  piety. 

Rkv.  E.  LooMisdied  at  his  home  in  Emerson,  Iowa,  Au- 
gust, 6,  1875.  He  was  "full  ofj^ears,  ripe  in  christian  expe- 
rience, loved  by  all  who  knew  him  and  assured  of  his  re- 
ward." Rev.  Wm.  C.  Cunningham  of  the  Southwestern 
Association,  died  about  1875.  "A  young  man  of  more 
than  ordinary  promise,"  and  had  not  been  long  in  the 
ministr3^  Rev.  J.  C.  Otis  died  at  Glenwood  in  1876.  See 
notice  on  page  249,  in  the  history  of  the  Southwestern  As- 
sociation. He  had  lived  an  unusually  active  and  pious 
life,  and  died  as  he  had  lived  glorifying  God. 

Rev.  J.  W.  Roe  died  at  his  home  in  Malvern  in  Octo- 
ber, 1876,  while  the  State  Convention  was  in  session  at 
Des  Moines.  He  was  recognized  in  the  Southwestern 
Association  as  one  ''whose  work  in  the  Association 
for  a  number  of  years  had  been  a  succession  of  victo- 
ries for  the  Master,  culminating  in  the  founding  of  Mai 
vern  Academy.''  Brother  Roe  begun  his  ministry  in  the 
Burlington  Association  about  1864  as  pastor,  for  a  short 
time,  of  the  Jefferson  Church,  and  also  at  Charleston  in 
the  Keokuk  Association.  From  1865  to  '67  he  labored  as 
Missionary  of  the  Home  Missionary  Society  in  Missouri,  in 
Gentry,  Wortli,  Harrison  and  perhaps  other  counties.  In 
1868  he  returned  to  Iowa  and  became  pastor  at  Sidney. 
"His  life  was  eminent  for  usefulness  in  the  upbuilding  of 
churches,  the  promotion  of  all  worthy  benevolent  enter- 
prises, the  advancement  of  our  educational  work,  and  es- 
pecially was  he  blessed  of  God  in  leading  precious  souls 
to  Jesus." 

Rev.  J.  B.  Peat  died  in  California  November  15, 1876. 


J 


490  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

He  was  born  in  England  September  24,  1816.  His  father 
died  when  he  was  two  years  old,  and  his  mother  when  he 
was  eight,  leaving  him  an  orphan.  In  his  young  manhood 
he  yielded  to  the  attractions  of  America  and  emigrated 
to  the  New  World.  He  was  converted  and  gave  his  whole 
heart  and  service  to  the  cause  of  Christ  and  won  for  him- 
self esteem  as  a  zealous  and  conscientious  preacher.  He 
was  ordained  in  1860,  at  Rogers'  Grove,  Linn  county.  Iowa, 
but  owing  to  poor  health  he  was  unable  to  continue  long 
in  pastoral  work.  About  1870  he  visited  California  for  his 
health  and  received  much  benefit.  He  was  pastor  at, the  City 
of  Red  Bluff  where  he  died.  "He  was  very  active  in  Temper- 
ance work  and  other  reform  movements,"  and  also  with  his 
pen.  His  first  published  work  was  a  pamphlet  entitled"  Tlie 
Bible  and  Pedo-Baptists  Against  Open  Communion."  The 
title  was  afterwards  changed  to  "The  Bible  Against  Open 
Communion.-'  "The  Baptists  Examined"  is  a  volume  of 
considerable  size,  probably  his  principal  work.  He  is  said 
to  have  published  two  other  works,  "  Sure,"  and  "  Parson- 
age Pencilings." 

Rev.  John  Warren,  pastor  for  four  or  five  years  of  the 
Ainsworth  Church,  died  some  time  in  the  spring  of  1877. 
"Father  Warren,"  as  he  was  most  fittingly  called,  "was  a 
man  of  deep  and  fervent  piety,  of  strong  faith  and  thor- 
oughly imbued  with  a  spirit  of  consecration  to  his  Master, 
walking  in  the  ordinances  of  the  Lord  blameless."  He  was 
ordained  at  Chariton,  Iowa,  about  1859.  He  was  after- 
wards pastor  at  New  London,  Denmark,  and  perhaps  other 
places,  and  finally  at  Ainsworth.  He  was  also  chaplain  of 
the  Penitentiary  at  Fort  Madison.  He  had  a  simple,  un- 
obtrusive, unafi'ected  manner,  beautifully  manifest  in  all 
the  walks  of  life,  and  won  the  affection  and  esteem  of  all 
who  knew  him. 

Rev,   L,   Frescoln  of    Brookville  died  in   1877.     He 


OF   IOWA   BAPTISTS.  491 

spent  most  of  his  ministerial  life  in  Ohio,  where  it  is  said 
by  one  having  personal  knowledge,  "  that  he  served  long 
and  faithfull}^  preaching  the  word  of  life  to  perisliing 
sinners,  and  gathering  many  precious  souls  to  the  church." 

Rev.  a.  H.  Rumbaugh  of  Charleston  and  Rev.  G.  W. 
Dowo,  near  Ottumwa,  passed  away  in  1878.  Of  Brother 
Rumbaugh  it  is  said,  "A  consistent  christian,  a  zealous 
worker  and  a  faithful  pastor.  Brother  Dowd  was  pastor 
in  the  Davenport  Association  as  early  as  1861,  at  Zion, 
LeClaire,  Hickory  Grove,  and  Blue  Grass.  He  was  pastor 
of  the  last  named  for  a  number  of  years. 

Rev.  Wm.  J.  Sparks  died  at  his  home  near  Moiugona, 
Boone  county,  June  30,  1878.  "Father  Sparks"  may  well  be 
called  the  spiritual  father  of  the  Baptist  Churches  in  this 
part  of  Iowa.  He  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  and  was  one 
of  those  who  forsook  the  home  of  their  early  childhood  to 
get  away  from  the  evils  of  slavery.  He  came  first  to  Indi- 
ana, and  about  1852  removed  from  there  to  Boone  county, 
Iowa.  He  was  the  first  Baptist  minister  in  all  that  region 
of  the  Des  Moines  Valley  north  of  the  city  of  Des  Moines. 
He  organized  the  North  Union,  Mount  Pleasant  and  Great 
Bend  Churches  and  preached  and  labored  with  unremit- 
ting zeal  as  the  pioneer  in  all  this  region.  He  had  a  most 
tender  and  afl'ectionate  way  of  calling  his  brethren  and 
sisters  "My  Father's  children,"  and  he  will  be  remembered 
for  many  years  for  his  own  fatherly  and  loving  spirit. 

Rev.  R.  J.  Reynolds  died  at  Ames,  August  8,  1879., 
He  was  from  the  state  of  New  York  and  had  been  in  Iowa 
onl}^  a  little  more  than  a  year.  This  was  his  first  and  only 
pastorate  in  this  state.  He  was  a  very  earnest  and  devot- 
ed christian,  and  was  lamented  most  by  those  who  knew 
him  best. 

Rev.  Wm.  Wood   of   Cedar   Falls   died   July  21,  1879,- 


492  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

aged  73  years.  He  came  from  the  state  of  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  was  well  known  for  his  activity  in  the  ministry, 
and  settled  at  DeWitt,  Iowa,  in  1857.  After  a  few  years 
he  removed  to  Cedar  Falls,  and  for  many  years,  indeed  till 
near  the  time  of  his  death,  was  actively  engaged  in  mis- 
sionary and  evangelistic  work.  He  was  of  fearless  and 
indomitable  energy,  and  rebuked  sin  with  an  unsparing 
but  sanctified  zeal.  Many  souls  were  by  him  led  to  the 
cross,  and  many  churches  in  Northern  Iowa  can  testify  to 
his  success  in  missionary  work. 

Rev.  James  Christie  Hurd,  M.  D.,  on  Sunday,  Decem- 
ber 21,  1879,  while  yet  in  "  the  fullness  of  manhood  and 
activity,"  "  suddenl}^  passed  away,  in  a  few  hours  aft^r 
preaching  to  his  people  with  his  usual  power."  He  was 
born  in  Nova  Scotia,  April  17,  1829.  "He  early  prepared 
himself  for  the  practice  of  medicine,  but  soon  felt  that  it 
was  his  duty  to  preach  the  gospel."  He  became  pastor  of 
the  Cedar  Street  Baptist  Church,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  in  1873, 
and  while  in  that  city  occupied  an  editorial  position  on 
the  Buffalo  Express.  From  Buffalo  he  removed  to  St. 
Thomas,  Ontario,  and  in  1876  came  to  Iowa  and  took 
charge  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Marshalltown.  In  1878 
he  became  pastor  of  the  1st  Baptist  Church,  Burlington, 
where  he  "  died  in  the  harness "  on  the  date  mentioned 
above.  "Though  he  had  been  in  Iowa  less  than  four  years, 
yet  by  marked  ability  and  consecration  to  his  work,  he 
had  won  a  y^lace  of  great  power  and  influence  throughout 
the  state."  In  October,  1878,  he  was  elected  president  of 
the  Iowa  Baptist  State  Convention,  which  position  he  filled 
with  "signal  ability"  until  the  time  of  his  death. 

Rev.  Joshua  Hill  died  at  Guthrie  Center,  December  4, 
1879.  He  came  to  Iowa  at  the  age  of  70,  nearly  ten  years 
before   his   death.     But   though  so  advanced   in  years  he 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  493 

was  an  efficient  pastor  for  three  years,  and  a   useful   mem- 
ber of  the  cliurc]i  as  long  as  he  lived. 

Rev.  Wm.  Roney  died  at  Chicago  June  12,  1879,  of 
disease  of  the  heart,  aged  64.  He  was  born  within  the  pres- 
ent limits  of  Philadelphia,  September  6,  1815,  graduated 
from  Madison  University  in  1843,  and  from  Hamilton  Theo- 
logical Seminary  in  1845  and  married  to  Irene  B.  Buell  in 
the  same  year.  His  first  pastorate  was  with  the  Hamilton 
Baptist  Church  in  Ohio.  His  last  pastorate  was  in  the 
same  state.  He  was  pastor  at  Clinton,  Iowa,  in  1868  and 
'69.  The  text  of  his  funeral  discourse  was  one  of  his  fa- 
vorite quotations,  repeated  with  great  earnestness  on  his 
deathbed;  "I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth." 

Rev.  O.  L.  Critenden  died  at  New  Sharon,  Februarj^ 
23,  1880.  He  was  born  in  Chenango  county,  New  York,  and 
was  66  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  educa- 
ted at  Madison  University  and  was  ordained  in  Chautauqua 
county.  New  York,  in  1844.  He  had  been  pastor  in  the 
states  of  New  York,  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  at  the  2d  Church,  Pella,  Iowa.  He  was  a  man 
of  great  conscientiousness  and  purity  of  life.  Rev.  James 
Frey,  Sr.,  at  Sigourney,  January  3,  1880,  Rev.  T.  C. 
Briggs  at  Chickesaw,  January  24, 1880,  andREV.  Wilford 
Wiiitaker  at  Iowa  Falls,  July  9,  1880,  make  up  our  record 
for  that  year. 

Rev.  F.  a.  Gates,  of  Massilon,  Cedar  county,  died  sud- 
denly in  Kansas,  October  21, 1880,  while  visiting  his  young- 
est daughter.  Born  at  Attleboro,  Massachusetts,  March 
15,  1810,  converted  in  his  youth.  Was  in  Waterville  Col- 
lege from  1833  to  '36.  Was  ordained  at  Marietta,  Georgia, 
in  1842.  Spent  much  of  his  time  in  teaching,  and  preach- 
ing occasionally  as  opportunity  offered.  He  came  to  Iowa 
in  1852.     Brother  Gates  was  a  life  member  of  the   Baptist 


494  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

State  Convention,  used  frequently   to   attend   its  meetings 
and  contributed  liberally  to  its  work. 

Rev.  Hikam  Burnett  died  at  Ins  home  in  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant, January  8,  1881,  in  his  82d  year.  Born  in  Georgia  in 
1799,  but  removed  with  his  parents  when  ten  years  of  age 
to  Winchester,  Adams  county,  Ohio.  He  was  ordained 
about  1832,  and  labored  in  Ohio  for  ten  years.  He 
came  to  Iowa  in  1832  and  settled  at  Mt.  Pleasant  where  he 
labored  for  twelve  years.  Many  of  the  churches  in  the 
Burlington  and  Keokuk  Associations  can  testify  to  the  un- 
tiring activity  and  devotion  of  Father  Burnett  in  the  ear- 
lier days  of  their  history  and  struggles. 

Rev.  Wm.  Young  of  Charleston,  Iowa,  died  March  25, 
1881.  He  was  born  in  Upper  Canada.  Was  "born  again" 
in  Wapello  county,  Iowa  in  1862,  and  ordained  at  Charles- 
ton in  1866.  "Through  the  fifteen  years  of  his  ministerial 
life  many  souls,  through  him  were  led  to  Christ."  Rev. 
Adna  Orcutt  died  at  the  home  of  his  son  in  Kansas  City, 
April  19,  1881,  in  his  77th  year.  He  was  born  in  Vermont, 
removed  when  43  years  of  age  to  Rockford,  Illinois,  was 
ordained  and  preached  to  the  Cherry  Valley  Church.  Af- 
terwards came  to  Hardin  county,  Iowa,  and  supplied  the 
Hardin  City,  Point  Pleasant,  Xenia,  and  perhaps  other 
churches.  "He  was  earnest  and  conscientious  in  his  work, 
even  going  beyond  his  strength  in  his  old  age,  to  do  his 
Master's  service." 

Rev.  Thomas  Powell  died  in  Keokuk,  May  14,  1881. 
He  was  born  in  Orange  county,  Ohio,  in  December  1837. 
He  entered  the  ministry  before  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebel- 
lion. He  went  into  the  army  and  served  part  of  the  time 
as  chaplain  of  his  regiment.  He  afterwards  preached  in 
Ohio.  He  came  to  Iowa  in  1878  and  preached  to  the  church 
at  Ft.  Madison  a  year  and  nine  months,    closing   April  1, 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  495 

1880.  He  preached  also  at  Charleston  and  West  Point. 
He  had  studied  law  and  been  admitted  to  the  bar.  "He 
was  a  man  of  marked  traits  and  of  true  consecration,  and 
as  a  speaker  he  had  peculiar  ability." 

Rev.  Albert  G.  Ebekiiart  died  at   Waterloo,  May  22, 

1881,  in  his  71st  year.  He  was  born  in  Greensboro,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1810.  He  was  a  glass-blower  by  trade  in  early 
life,  and  was  married  in  1833  to  Miss  Eliza  Evans.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  by  the  Greensboro  Church  in  1813,  and 
was  ordained  as  an  evangelist  in  1844.  He  first  entered 
Iowa  in  1854  and  settled  at  Muscatine.  He  was  after- 
wards pastor  at  Waterloo,  Cedar  Falls  and  Cedar  Rapids, 
His  pastorates  were  usually  short,  but  he  always  left  be- 
hind him  a  healthful  religious  spirit.  He  had  four  or  five 
sons  in  the  army  of  the  Union,  and  he  served  for  a  time  as 
chaplain  of  the  12tli  Iowa  Infantry.  "Life's  fitful  fever 
over,  he  rests  well."  Rev.  A.  W.  Russell  died  at  Lake 
City,  June  5,  1881,  at  the  age  of  64.  He  came  into  Iowa  in 
1855,  and  was  well  known  as  one  of  our  active  ministers, 
as  a  missionary  and  a  pastor,  in  the   earlier  years. 

Rev.  Alva  Bush,LL.  D.,  Principal  of  Cedar  Valley  Sem- 
nary,  died  June  26,  1881,  at  Osage.  He  was  stricken  with 
paralysis,  in  the  street,  June  23,  and  lived  but  three  days. 
He  was  born  January  25,  1830,  and  was  married  in  1853  to 
Eliza  J.  Moore  of  Jamestown,  New  York.  His  education 
was,  mainly,  received  at  Jamestown  Academy  and  at  Bur- 
lington University,  Iowa.  He  was  ordained  pastor  of  the 
church  at  Strawberry  Point  in  November,  1859,  and  was 
afterwards  pastor  at  Fayette,  and  instructor  in  the  Upper 
Iowa  University.  In  1863  he  went  to  Osage  and  began  the 
Cedar  Valley  Seiliinary,  where  we  have  already  traced  his 
most  honorable  career  for  eighteen  years.  He  was  recog- 
nized as   one  of   Iowa's   ablest  educators.     "A  thorough 


496  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

scholar  himself,  he  impressed  upon  his  pupils  his  own 
methods  of  thouojht  and  study.  His  bearing  and  presence 
were  an  inspiration  to  those  who  learned  of  him."  "Thus 
in  many  respects  was  Prof.  Bush  a  model  man.^'' 

Rev.  J  W.  Denison  passed  to  his  rest  in  1881.  He 
was  born  in  N'ew  York,  April  9,  1818.  "He  entered  the 
ministry  in  1846  and  served  successively  the  churches  at 
Upper  Alton,  Brimfield  and  Rock  Island,  111.  His  health 
failing,  he  came  to  Iowa  in  1856  as  agent  and  co-partner 
of  the  Providence  Western  Land  Company,"  and  entered 
over  20,000  acred  of  land  in  Crawford  county.  Here  he  set- 
tled down,  founded  the  town  of  Denison,  and  during  his  first 
year  of  residence  here  organized  the  Denison  Baptist 
Church,  of  which  he  was  pastor  until  1863.  After  his 
retirement  "every  successive  pastor  found  in  him  a  judi- 
cious counsellor,  an  earnest  co-laborer,  and  a  warm  person- 
al friend." 

Rev.  C.  G.  Smith  died  at  Creston,  Iowa,  in  September, 
1881.  He  was  born  at  Homer,  N.  Y.,  November  27,  1813, 
and  was  baptized  at  the  age  of  18  by  Elder  A.  Bennett. 
He  attended  school  at  a  Methodist  institution  at  Cazenovia, 
N.  Y.,  and  while  there  became  a  Methodist,  but  in  1837 
returned  to  the  Baptist  faith  and  was  licensed  to  preach. 
He  went  to  Ohio  and  preached  with  success,  then  to  Mich- 
igan, where  he  formed  a  Baptist  church  and  was  ordained 
as  pastor.  After  a  very  active  ministerial  life  and  much 
affliction  he  came  to  Iowa  and  went  on  a  farm,  and  after- 
wards passed  on  to  his  reward  above. 

The  records  of  1881  bear  the  names  of  two  deacons  and 
one  beloved  sister,  in  addition  to  the  long  and  notable  list 
of  ministers,  who  went  to  their  rest.  Deacon  Edwin  Cady 
at  Danville,  December  14,  1880,  Deacon  Azel  Pratt  at 
Waukon,  February  19,  1881,  and  the  beloved  wife  of   Bro- 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  497 

ther  H.  H.  Smith  of  Davenport,  December  10,  1880.  Of 
Deacon  Cady  "Rev.  G.  J.  Johnson  once  said  that  in  all  his 
extensive  travels  and  acquaintance,  he  never  met  with  a 
more  benevolent  man."  The  present  writer  can  attest  the 
same  characteristic  in  a  remarlsable  degree.  Deacon  Pratt 
"was  an  honored  servant  of  the  Lord,  identifying  himself 
with  all  the  interests  of  the  denomination  to  which  he  be- 
longed," Of  sister  Smith  it  is  said,  "Some  who  come  to 
earth  are  ever  found  in  the  chambers  of  the  dying.  They 
comfort  the  bereaved,  they  lift  up  the  fallen,  they  nerve 
the  faltering,  they  lead  reforms  and  are  first  in  the  church. 
Such  a  person  was  Sister  H.  H.  Smith  of  Davenport,  who 
died  in  that  city  December  10,  1880,  after  four  years  of 
protracted  suffering.  She  was  born  February  25th,  1819, 
and  was  baptized  by  Dr.  Gillett  into  the  llth  Baptist 
Church  of  Philadelphia  in  1838.  Was  married  to  H.  H. 
Smith  in  1842,  and  moved  to  Davenport  in  1850. 

Kp:v.  Philemon  Perky  Shirley  died  since  1880,  we 
believe  at  Cheyenne.  He  was  born  December  16,  1827,  in 
Hancock  county,  Indiana,  was  converted  and  baptized  in 
1840,  and  in  184 L  his  parents  moved  to  Iowa.  Thirsting 
for  knowledge,  he  studied,  taught,  and  preached  among 
the  destitute,  until,  with  a  fair  knowledge  of  natural  sci- 
ence, he  entered  Madison  University,  New  York.  In  1854 
he  became  pastor  at  Grafton  where  he  was  ordained. 
About  1855  he  returned  to  Iowa.  He  labored  with  manj^ 
churches  in  Illinois  and  Iowa,  much  of  the  time  as  an 
evangelist  and  helper  of  other  pastors,  and  baptized  about 
1,000  converts.  In  1879  he  went  with  his  family  to  Cali- 
fornia, and  became  pastor  at  Petaluma,  but  poor  health 
preventing  continuous  pulpit  work,  he  had  returned  part 
way  back  towards  the  east  when  he  was  called  home. 
S.ympathetic,  genial  and  eloquent  he  continued  to  plead 
with  men  to  accept  the  gospel  as  long  as  he  had  strength. 


498  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Rev.  Joseph  T.  Robert,  LL.  D.,  president  of  Atlanta 
Seminary,  died  in  that  city,  since  1880.  (The  date  in  the 
two  last  cases  not  known.)  He  was  born  in  Robertville,  S. 
C,  November,  1807.  He  was  baptized  in  October,  1822,  at 
Robertville,  and  in  1825  entered  Columbian  College,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.  He  was  graduated  with  the  first  honors  of  his 
class  at  Brown  University  in  1828.  In  1882  he  was  licensed 
to  preach  by  the  Robertville  Church  and  entered  Furman 
Theological  Seminary,  where  he  remained  two  years,  and 
was  ordained  pastor  of  his  home  church  in  1834  and  in 
1839  removed  to  Kenucky  to  become  pastor  at  Covington. 
He  returned  south  again  about  1848,  and  was  pastor  at  Sa- 
vannah, Georgia,  and  in  1850  was  called  to  Portsmouth, 
Ohio.  About  1856  he  came  to  Iowa,  and  lived  a  year  or  so 
on  a  little  farm  and  preached  at  Ottumwa.  He  then  be- 
came Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Sciences  in 
Burlington  University.  In  1864  he  was  secured  by  the 
Iowa  State  University  as  Professor  of  Languages,  and  in 
1869  accepted  the  presidency  of  Burlington  University. 
The  necessity  of  a  milder  climate  soon  took  him  back  to 
Georgia,  where  he  accepted,  in  1871  the  care  of  the  Augusta 
Institute  for  colored  ministers  established  by  the  Ameri- 
can Baptist  Home  Mission  Society,  which  was  removed  to 
Atlanta,  in  1879  and  incorporated  with  the  Atlanta  Bap- 
tist Seminary  under  the  presidency  of  Dr.  Robert,  "A 
scholar  of  the  highest  order  and  a  perfect  christian  gentle- 
man." Dr.  Robert  was  of  Huguenot  descent.  As  a  preach- 
er and  theologian  he  was  sound  and  learned,  a  scholar  of 
wide  proficiency. 

Rev.  Daniel  Jewett  died  in  the  spring  of  1882.  He 
came  to  Iowa  in  1844  and  settled  in  VanBuren  county.  We 
have  no  statistical  data  of  his  life.  Rev.  Edward  Otis, 
pastor  of  the  Hayden  Grove  Church,  died  September  1, 
1882.     He  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1816,  and   after  three  years 


OF    IOWA    BAPTISTS.  499 

residence  in  Illinois,  removed  to  Iowa  in  1856.  IS^early 
fifty  years  a  christian,  and  twenty-three  years  a  pastor,  he 
was  for  seventeen  years  of  the  time  pastor  of  the  Hayden 
Grove  Church.  He  was  a  faithful  minister  of  the  gospel 
and  a  devout  and  zealous  christian.  (See  page  386.)  Dea. 
Spencer  Aluen  of  Anamosa,  departed  this  life  in  1882, 
aged  72.  He  had  been  a  member  of  the  Anamosa  church 
sixteen  years.  He  was  greatly  afflicted  with  Asthma  for 
several  years,  but  did  not  give  up  doing  good.  He  was 
greatl}^  interested  in  church-building  and  in  Home  and 
Foreign  Missions,  and  made  liberal  provisions  for  both  in 
the  final  disposition  of  his  property.  He  left  an  earnest, 
christian  ''helpmeet"'  who  still  lives  to  continue  his  good 
works.  Clement  Leach,  Jr.,  died  after  only  four  years 
residence  in  Iowa  in  1882.  Educated  for  the  law,  but, 
"compelled  by  failing  sight  to  relinquish  that  profession, 
he  sought  to  live  for  Christ."  He  had  been  an  efficient 
helper  in  the  Sunday  School  at  Galesburg,  Illinois.  Mrs. 
A.  Plumley,  wife  of  the  veteran  Missionary,  Rev.  A. 
Plumley,  died  at  Goldfield,  March  3,  1882.  "Her  life  was 
devoted  to  the  cause  of  Christ  from  childhood."  As  a  wife 
and  mother  faithful  and  loving,  her  last  work  was  work 
for  th(5  Master.  Mrs.  Burkholder,  wife  of  Rev.  J.  C. 
Burkholder,  died  at  her  home  in  Dakota.  She  w^as  well 
known  in  Iowa  where  her  husband  preached  for  many  years. 

Rev.  James  H.  Pratt  died  February  6,  1883  at  Atlan- 
tic, Iowa.  (See  page  398.)  He  had  been  but  a  few  years  in 
Iowa,  but  had  attached  himself  to  those  who  knew  him, 
especially  at  Emerson  and  Atlantic  where  he  served  as 
pastor.  "As  a  pastor  lie  was  kind,  full  of  sympathy,  like 
the  Master,  ready  to  do  the  Master's  bidding.  As  a 
preacher,  clear  in  statements  of  truth,  sympathetic  in  its 
utterance,  and  earnest  in  its  vindication.  He  ranked  among 
our  best  men  in  all  departments  of  ministerial  life." 


500  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES 

Rev.  a,  C.  Sangster  died  at  Iowa  City,  January  3, 
1883,  in  the  86th  year  of  his  age.  He  was  born  in  London, 
England,  March  6,  1797.  His  father  was  a  member  of  the 
East  India  Company.  He  was  ordained  to  the  Baptist  min- 
istry in  1822,  at  Dummo,  Essex.  He  came  to  America  in 
1832,  and  preached  in  a  number  of  places  in  New  York, 
city  and  state,  and  in  Michigan,  and  in  1861  he  came  to 
Iowa,  and  though  already  advanced  in  years  he  served  ac- 
ceptibly  the  churches  at  Downey,  Richmond,  Lone  Tree, 
and  Columbus  Junction,  besides  preaching  betimes  at 
other  places.  "  For  six  years  he  was  confined  to  his  room, 
where  thrice  a  day  he  prayed  that  he  might  be'  permitted 
to  go  away  and  be  with  Jesus.  He  retained  his  memory 
to  the  last  to  a  wonderful  degree,  and  from  a  mind  richly 
stored  with  choice  Scripture  and  Hymns,  he  brought  forth  for 
his  own  encouragement  and  the  edification  of  all."  Some- 
times the  old  fire  would  "flame  up  again  and  again,'- and  he 
would  sa,y,  "I  believe  I  could  preach  better  than  I  ever 
could."  It  has  been  the  present  writer's  privilege  to  meet 
few  men  whose  minds  were  so  richly  stored  with  spiritual 
truth. 

Rev.  Thomas  W.  Clark  died  at  DeWitt  May  11,  1883, 
after  a  residence  there  of  forty-liiree  years.  So  says  the 
Obituary  Report  of  1883.  The  earliest  record  we  find  of 
his  name  in  the  minutes  is  in  1858,  where  he  is  named  as 
coming  into  Iowa  in  1857.  It  is  possible  he  may  then  have 
returned  from  a  temporary  absence  from  the  state,  having 
entered  the  ministry  in  the  mean  time.  He  was  born  in 
Queen's  county.  New  Brunswick,  February  24,  1808,  and 
removed  to  Stark  county,  Ohio,  in  1830.  -'He  was  the 
founder  of  the  DeWitt  Church  and  for  many  years  the 
pastor,  and  was  always  a  read.y  and  willing  worker  in 
every  good  cause.  The  later  years  of  his  ministerial  work 
he  labored  in  the  capacity  of   an  evangelist,  and  under  his 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  501 

faithful  labors  many  feeble  churches  were  strengthened 
and  enlarged."  Mrs.  P.  P.  Golding,  a  constituent  mem- 
ber of  the  church  at  Mechanicsville,  died  during  the 
summer  of  1883.  "She  became  a  life  member  of  the  Iowa 
Baptist  State  Convention  in  1868,  and  often  manifested  a 
grateful  remembrance  of  the  Board  for  its  aid  to  the  weak 
church  of  whicli  she  was  a  member,  as  well  as  a  deep  in- 
terest in  the  work  throughout  the  state." 

Kev.  Jeremiah  Hall,  D.  J).,  died  within  the  last  few 
years,  having  resided  of  late  years  at  Port  Huron,  Michi- 
igan.  He  was  born  at  Swanzey,  New  Hampshire,  May  21, 
1805.  Baptized  in  1816,  in  1847  he  was  admitted  by  Madi- 
son University  to  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts,  and  in 
1854  the  degree  of  D.  D.  was  conferred  upon  him  by 
Shurtleff  College.  He  took  the  regular  course  of  studies 
in  JSTewton  Theological  Institution,  finishing  in  1880.  He 
was  ordained  February  3,  1831  in  Westford,  Vermont,  and 
preached  there  and  at  Fairfax,  and  afterwards  at  Benning- 
ton. He  was  much  interested  in  the  founding  of  institiations 
of  learning.  In  the  spring  of  1885  he  removed  to  Michigan, 
and  through  his  influence  Kalamazoo  College  was  located 
where  it  was,  financial  obligations  assumed  to  secure  it 
causing  him  afterwards  "  great' embarassment  and  loss."' 
In  1853  he  was  elected  president  of  Granville  College, 
Ohio,  and  soon  after  entering  upon  his  duties  the  name 
was  changed  to  Denison  University.  He  lived  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  at  Waverly,  Iowa,  and  at  Shell  Rock,  where 
he  was  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church.  It  was  the  writer's 
lot  to  be  one  of  his  early  successors  at  Sliell  Rock,  and  to 
take  knowledge  of  the  most  excellent  influence  and  Godly 
testimony  of  his  life  and  work  while  there. 

Rev.  Eber  Crane  died  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  April  4,  1884 
in  the  76th  3'ear  of  his  age.    He  was  born  in  Killingsworth, 


™ 


502  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 

Conn.  He  was  converted  in  his  seventeenth  year.  Recog 
nizing  in  early  life  the  divine  call  to  preach  the  gospel,  he 
spent  three  years  at  the  South  Reading  Academy,  and  in 
1831  entered  Newton  Theological  Seminary  and  graduated 
in  1832,  and  was  soon  after  ordained  pastor  of  the  Baptist 
Church  at  Amesbury,  Mass.  He  came  west  to  Ohio  under 
appointment  of  the  Home  Mission  Society,  and  "served 
with  much  acceptance,  churches  at  Akron,  McConnells- 
ville  and  Garrettville."'  In  August  1853,  he  came  to  Mt. 
Pleasant,  and  though  he  held  no  pastorate  in  this  state, 
"spent  the  declining  years  of  his  life  in  supplying  pastor- 
less  churches  near  his  home."  "Like  a  shock  of  corn  fully 
ripe  he  was   gathered  to  his  fathers." 

Rev.  H.  N.  Millaru  died  in  the  Hospital  at  Indepen- 
dence. May  2d,  1884  He  was  born  in  the  state  of  New 
York,  February  16,  1833.  He  came  to  Iowa  in  1853,  and 
was  afterwards  converted  and  joined  the  Baptist  church  at 
Comanche.  He  was  ordained  March,  26,  1872,  and  settled 
as  pastor  of  the  church  at  Lyons,  where  he  served  two 
years,  followed  by  three  years  at  Mechanicsville.  "Here 
his  ministry  was  blessed  to  the  conversion  of  over  twenty 
souls."  He  was  pastor  next  at  Boone,  Iowa,  nearly  four 
years,  and  over  fifty  were" baptized.  For  the  last  year  and 
a  half  of  his  ministry  he  was  pastor  of  the  Mt.  Pleasant 
and  Pilot  Mound  Churches,  and  Missionary  of  the  Conven- 
tion. He  was  "a  good  minister  of  Jesus  Christ,"  kind  and 
loving,  and  pure  in  heart  and  life.  "Grreatly  loved  by  all 
classes,  and  especially  by  the  young."  Rev.  John  Wil- 
son died  at  Winfield  in  1884.  He  was  lately  from  Eng- 
land, a  student  of  Spurgeon's  College.  And  Dea.  Robert 
Cole,  at  Council  Bluffs,  February  22,  1884.  Brother  Cole 
was  long  a  useful  member  of  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Church  and 
was  well  and  favorably  known  all  over  southeastern  Iowa. 

We  close  our  Obituary  Notes  with  1884.     The  annals  of 


OF   IOWA    BAPTISTS.  503 

1885  and  "86  contain  extended  lists  which  rapidly  closing 
space  will  not  permit  us  to  copy,  even  in  condensed  form. 
We  may  add  here  the  sug2;estion  that  those  possessing 
themselves  of  these  Sketches,  by  taking  care  to  obtain  and 
preserve  the  Annuals  of  the  two  last  and  of  succeeding[years, 
may  have  quite  an  unbroken  history  both  in  this  and  all 
other  departments. 

For  the  facts  given  in  the  foregoing  notes,  of  the  long 
list  of  soldiers  of  the  cross  who  have  done  duty  in  Iowa  in 
some  part  of  their  service,  and  have  received  promotion,  we 
have  not  been  dependent  upon  any  one  source  of  informa- 
tion; but  have  drawn  upon  a  variety  of  different  sources, 
and  have  been  aided  in  many  instances  by  a  long  and  inti- 
mate personal  knowledge  of  the  individuals.  For  conven- 
ience of  reference  we  mention  here  the  names  of  those  who 
have  been  called  up  higher  during  the  last  two  years,  re- 
ferring to  the  respective  Annuals  for  the  facts  of  their  lives. 
Professor  David  Forrester  Call  at  his  home  in  Iowa 
City,  August  1885.  Mrs.  Josephine  Webber  Bowmatst, 
the  beloved  wife  of  Hon.  M.  T.  Y,  Bowman  of  Des  Moines, 
at  the  time  the  president  of  the  State  Convention,  in  No- 
vember 1885.  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Turton  at  his  homeiuFarm- 
ington,  Iowa,  December  19,  1884,  in  the  78d  year  of  his  age. 
Rev.  Nathaniel  Hays  in  the  72d  year  of  his  age.  Or- 
dained in  1849,  and  came  to  Iowa  in  1856.  Baptized 
over  500  converts  in  the  States  of  Illinois  and  Iowa. 
Rev.  M.  TERwiLLKiER  at  Murray,  September  16,  1885. 
in  the  71st  year  of  his  age.  Deacon  Gideon  Bear  at 
Richmond,  Iowa,  in  his  75th  year.  Sister  Howell,  wife 
of  Rev.  A.  F.  Howell,  at  Toledo,  Iowa,  June  4,  1885. 
Converted  in  London,  England,  under  the  preaching  of  D. 
L.  Moody,  married  in  1875,  and  came  with  her  husband  to 
Iowa  in  1884.  Rev.  J.  M.  Mack,  at  Boyden,  Sioux  county, 
Iowa,  March    15,  1885,   in    his   76th   year. 


504  HISTORICAL    ^KETCHES 

Rev.  Thomas  Miller,  thirty-five  years  a  pioneer 
minister  in  Southern  Iowa,  the  father  of  our  missionary 
sister,  L.  Ella  Miller,  died  in  Kansas  in  1885.  Rev. 
Thomas  C.  Townsend  at  Sidney,  Iowa,  March  5,  1885,  in 
the  87th  year  of  his  age.  Ordained  in  1834.  Deacox 
Major  W.  Rudd,  one  of  the  constituent  members  of  the 
Iowa  Baptist  State  Convention,  at  his  home  in  Washington, 
Iowa,  Marcli  25,  1885.  Rev.  J.  Hendrickson,  "doing  a 
good  work  among  the  Danes  in  our  state,"  died  of  appo- 
plexy  at  Independence,  December  17,  1886,  in  his  59th 
year.  Rev.  Andrew  E.  Lovegreist,  at  his  home  in 
Forest  Cit3^  July  17,  1886,  only  thirty-three  years  old. 
Rev.  Lyman  Stillson,  the  Hero  Missionary,  at  his  home 
in  Jefferson,  Iowa,  Marcii  23,  1886,  in  his  82d  year.  Rev. 
Elisha  R.  Swain,  April  7,  1880,  aged  85  years,  1  month 
and  25  days.  Rev.  A.  D.  Abbott  at  Delhi,  August  11, 
1886.  Dea.  Albion  Parsons  at  his  home  in  Burlington 
in  1886.  Dea.  Samuel  Harlan  at  his  home  in  Atlantic, 
in  October  1886.  iMrs.  Ruth  Prey,  wife  of  Rev.  James 
Prey  of  Sigourney,  April  1,  1886.  Mrs.  Eliza  C.  Criten- 
DEN",  widow  of  Rev.  O.  L.  Critenden  May  19,  1886,  at  Des 
Moines.  Mrs.  Ada  Garton  Dewey,  a  life  member  of  the 
Convention,  daughter  of  VV.  L.  Garton  of  Des  Moines,  in 
1886.  Rev.  Lewis  Brasted.  (See  page  132.)  Rev.  Arch- 
ibald L.  Parr  at  his  home  in  Plorida  in  the  fall  of  1886, 
at  the  age  of  60.  "The  end  of  a  noble,  useful  and  beautiful 
life."  Some  of  his  most  successful  work  was  done  at  Iowa 
Palls  in  our  state.  Dea.  Penny  of  the  Pisgah  Church; 
"A  shock  of  corn  fully  ripe,"  late  in  1886.  And  now  as 
we  cl()Sf>  this  record  of  lives  translated  from  works  to  re- 
wards; as  in  our  mind's  eye  we  gaze  upward  towards  the 
golden  streets;  as  we  think  of  Him  who  ascended  before, 
may  we  not  hear  the  angels  salving,  as  to  the  astonished 
disciples,  "Why  stand  ye  gazing  up  into  heaven  '.  this 
same  Jesus  which  is  taken  lip  from  you  into  heaven,  shall 
so  come  again  in  like  manner  as  ye  have  seen  him  go  into 
heaven."     "Even  so,  come  Lord  Jesus." 


INDEX. 


Abhott,  Rev.  A.D 215,504 

Ahliott.  Kfv.  J.  A 173,  208,228,231.261 

Aheriirthy,  HoiV  A 280,  282,  457 

Abinisj-doii  Church 1;J8 

Adams,  Kcv.  D.  C 290,  395 

Adair  County  First  Church 370 

Adams,  Rev.  G.  M 227,  340 

Adams.  Rev.  JC 370 

Adams  County  First  Church,239, 369,  383,386 

Adams,  Rev,  J.  D 384 

Addison  (  ollegiate  Institute 269,  478 

Adfl  (  hurch 184,  185,  277,  412 

,  Adliins.  Rev.  F 127 

^  African  (  hurch,  Mt.  Pleasant 297 

2  Afton  Church 369,  373,374 

f;  Agency  City 33,  36,  37 

3  Agencv  City  Church 31,  133 

S  Agricola  Church 328,  329,  3;»,  .332 

Ainsworth  Church 300,  311,  490 

Aitchison.  Rev.  J.  Y 

.56,  .58, 129, 170, 199, 201,  204,  258,  414,  427,475 

Aitchison,  Rev.  Wm 

207,  209,  210,  211,  215  216,  217 

Akers,  Rev.  M.  W 194,263 

Akers,  Rev.  W.  C 370,372 

S  Albia  Church 188,  190,  191 

i  Albin,  Rev.  R.  R 177,  380 

■>  Alden,  Deacon  Spencer 442,  499 

I  Alexander,  Rev.  R 243 

I  Algona  Church 349,  a51,  358,  362,  366 

Allen,  Rev.  J.  W 216,264 

Allen,  M.  B 256 

Allen.  Rev.  N.  M 2.53 

Allen,  Rev.  Prof.  L.  U., 68,  295,  297,  4.55 

Allen.  Rev.  W.  W 110 

Allerton  Church 191,  193 

AInut,  Rev.  F.  W 262 

Altoona  Church 171 

Amball,  Laura 442 

American  and  I'oreifrn  Bible  Society 50 

American  Rapt.  Hnmc  Mission  Society 

...12,  2s,  511.  ti;i,  fr,,  1)5.  IT'.i,  2:!;5,  {rX>,  439.) 
American  Baptist  Missionary  Union 

1.5.  50(441,  446) 

American  Baptist  Missionary  Union, 

Missionaries  of 1.5,  71,  (442,  444) 

American  Bap.  Publication  Society. 4.50,  4.54 

American  S.  S.  Union 47, 49 

A  merman.  Rev.  A.  J 229 

Ames  (  hurch 352,  a55,  357,  360,  362 

Anamnsa  Church 33,  2.56,  260 

Anderson.  Rev.  Galusha.  D.  D 4.59 

Anderson.  Rev.  Thomas 27,5,  276 

Andrews,  Rc\-.P.,.2;i'.t,  246,  369,373,  374,  383,390 
^  Anni\  crsaiies  ot  the  Union  for  Minis- 
terial F.ducatlon 4-33 

Anti-Mission  Baptists 181,  182,  410 

Antioch  (  hurch 390,  391 

Aiiti-Slavi'r\-  Meeting  at  Washington 30 

Apiilinjitnn  (  hurch 226 

Appropriate  Work  of  the  State  Con- 
vention   .50 

Archer,  Rev.  F.  M 

1.57.  17.5,  191,  19.3,  194,  282,  28:^ 

Archibald,  Rev.  T.  H .116.  117,205,  418 

A  Remarkable  Sabbath's  Services 110 

Arkills,  Rev.  M.  E 228,2:51 

Arnold,  Rev.  B.  B \U,  166 


Arnold,  Hon.  Delos 274 

Arnold,  Re  v.  T.  J 136,  168,  170,  248 

Arnold,  Rev.  Wm.  F 24.5,  394 

Ashland  Church 138 

Ashley.  Rev.  B.  F 134 

A  Singular  Question 413 

Atkins,  Rev.  L.  W 175,  232,  318,  322,  .379 

Atkinson.  Rev.  E.  E :^65 

Atlantic  A.s.sociation (393  to  400),  399 

Atlantic  Chur.  h 246,  248,  393,  395 

Atwood.  Rev.  A.  N 134 

Audubon  Church 397,  398 

Augusta  Church 107 

Aurora  Church 38,106,  133 

Au.xicr.  Rev.  E.  E 373, 374 

Avery,  Rev.  W.  H.  H 232,  282,  433 

Avery,  Mrs.  W.  H.  H 440 

A  voca  Church 393,  394 

Avon  Church 169 

A  Willing  Preacher 411 

Ayers,  Rev.  E.  J 279 

Ayers,  Rev.  E.  S 1:35 

Babcock,  Rev.  T.  F 273,  275 

Backus,  Dr.  Jay  S 436 

Bagwell,  Rev.  G.  W 1.59 

Bailey  Rev.  C.  E 221,  222 

Bailey,  Rev.  G.  S.,  D.  D 7.5,  86,  141,  459 

Bailey,  Mrs.  R.  E S19 

Bailev,  Rev,  T.  M 171 

Baird,  Rev.  C.  C 241,  243,246 

Baker,  Rev.  J.  A 25 

Baker,  Kev.  Joseph 160,  163 

Baker,  Rev.  S.  B 474 

Baker,  V.  W.,  Esq .222 

Balch.  Deacon  F.  E 4.56 

Baldwin,  Rev.  J 117,  199 

Baldwin,  Rev.  S.  E 241,242,246 

Ball,  Rev.  Zophar 475 

Baptist  Beacon.  The 247,  462 

'•  Baptist  Faith" 439 

Baptist  Tlieological  Institution    for 

the  North  West 37 

BajJtist  F.eelesiastical  Bodies 37 

Bai)tist  Educational  Society 36 

BaiJtist  Institution  of  Learning 35 

Barden,  Rev.  H.  A :«),  :i56 

Barden,  Rev.  Hiram  A 208,  2.58 

Barker,  Rev.  E.  P 228,  272 

Barnes,  Rev.  W.  H 129,371 

Barnett,  Rev.  Wm 

1.55,  160,  163,  187.  188,  191,  WS,  195 

Barr.  Rev.  John 2.50,  253 

Bartlett  Church 246 

Bartlett,  Rev.  Gardner 20,  22 

Bastion,  Rev.  N.  S .58,  110,  119 

Batavla  Church i;J8 

Bates.  Rev.  John 

....  117.  197,  201,  202,  203,  205,  208, 112,  488 

Bates  Family,  Sorrow  In 203 

Bates,  Lieut.  Samuel 203,  477 

Bates,  Rev.  W.  E ;*3 

Bath 115 

Bay,  Rev.  J.  M 282,364,366 

Bavliss.  Rev.  E.  E 174 

Beach,  Rev.  J.  H 340 

Beaman,  Rev.  S.  A 176 

Bear,  Deacon  Gideon 5C3 


Bear  Creek  Church  118, 197  199,  256 

Beard,  Sister  Hannah 287,  314 

Beard,  Rev.  Wm 152,  288,  292 

Bearing  the  Cross 89 

Beatty.  Rev.  J.  W 212,  213 

Beck,  Hon.  J.  M 286 

Bedford  Association 43,  57,  (237,  242). 

Bedford  Church 43,  237,  242,  244,  246  383 

Beebe,  Rev.  D.  F 252 

Beginning  at  Washington 28 

Belden,  Rev.  A.  Russell 117,  468,  473 

Belief ontaine  Church 135 

Bell,  Rev.  G.  W.  S 110 

Belle  Plaine  Church 263,  264 

Bellevue  Church 197 

Bell  Prairie  Church 257 

Benedict.  Rev.  E.  L 238,  330 

Bennet,  Rev.  E.  C 389,  391 

Bennett,  Lemon,  Esq 371,  374 

Bentlev,  C.  E 128 

Bentlev,  L.  Esq 246 

Benton  (  h  11  ich 297,  299,  303 

Benton,  Rev.  K.  W 301 

Berger,  Miss  Ella 446 

Berry,  Rev.  A.  P., 150, 155, 158, 160,  328 

Berry,  Rev.  Charles 379 

Berry,  Rev.  G.  H 289,  302,  304 

Berry,  Rev.  L.  M 303 

Besecker,  John 86 

Best,  Rev.  P.  M 251 

Bethel  Church,  Audubon  County 379 

Bethel  Church,  Bedford  Association,237,369 

Bethel  Church,  Central  Association 167 

Bethel  Church,  Eden  Association 187 

Bethel  Church,  Fox  River  Association.. 150 
Bethesda  (  linrch  187,  237,  238,  241, 369,  373, 374 

Bethlohf'in  (liurch 113,  385 

Bethlcheiii  (  liurch.  Eden  Associat'n  189, 192 

Bethlclieiii  Church,  Fox  River. 145 

Beulah  (  hurcli 1.52 

Beulah  Church,  Henry  County 302 

Bevan,  Rev.  M.  D 399 

Bibb,  Rev.  W.  H 367 

Big  Grove  Church 343,  248,  393,  399 

Big  Mound  Church 385 

Big  Rock  and  Wheatland  Churches 128 

Bills,  Rev.  G.  B 258 

Birmingham  Chureh 289 

Bishop,  Rev.  P.  P 110,  113,  295 

Blackhawk  War 65 

Blackhawk  Purchase 31 

Blakelv.  Rev.  I.  A 189,  190 

Blakel v.  Rev.  J.  L 385 

Blakelv  Church 106,  133,  136 

BladoMsbint;  (  hurch 139 

Blanchard,  Kev.  Ira 

26,  116,  205,  208,  334,  335,  472 

Blankenship,  Rev.  A 246 

Bland,  Rev.  F.  D .' 290 

Blizzards 74,  99 

Blood,  C.  G.  Esq 418 

Bloodgood,  Rev.  A.  V 

250,  251,   261.  271.  314,  ;^15,  360,  361, 

362,  390.391 

Bloomfleld  Church 57,  145 

Bloomington 35,  115 

Blue  Grass  Church 31,  116,  119,  491 

Blu It  Creek  Church 135 

Boardman,  |{ev.  B.  G 234 

Board  Meetings 98.  100 

Bodenham,  Kev.  John 173.  214,  315.  366 

Bolster,  Rev.  J.  W 1.50.  iss.  liMi 

Bonaparte  Church 27.  :!s.  111.  ~'S7 

Bond,  Rev.  G.  W 103,  lOti.  134.  ISO 

Bond.  Rev.  John 36,  103,  VU,  165 

Book  Fund  of  Washington  Assn.... 313.  331 


Boone  Forks  Church 166,  183,  348 

Boone  Church a53,  3.58 

Boouslxiro  Church, 167.  349,  ;i55,  364 

Baichars,  Rev.  T.  F 250,  3.51 

Border  Line  of  Baptists  in  1853 41 

Bosisto,  Rev.  R 3*-5 

Boswell,  Rev.  Jesse 390,  391 

Bovell,  Rev.  T.  S 177,  283 

Bowen's  Prairie 99 

Bowen,  Rev.  F 215,  216,  332,  343 

Bowen.  Rev.  H.  L 360,  361 

Bowman,  Mrs.  J.  W .503 

Bowman,  Hon.  M.  T.  V 432,  503 

Bowman's  Grove  Church 395,  396 

Bowen.  T.  H..  Esq .304,  211 

Boyer  River 75,  76 

Brabrook,  Rev.  B.  F 

39, 98, 108, 116, 117, 334, 417,  469,473,  477,  479 

Bradgate  Church .366 

Bi-and,  Rev.  Thomas 

371,  374,  275,  376,  427,  437,  458 

Brasted,  Rev.  B.  H 

....  132,  339.  2:31,  247,  316,  365,  391,  453,  470 

Brasted.  Rev.  Lewis 133,  .504 

Bratton's  Grove  Church 289 

Brayton,  Rev.  G.  F 219,  220 

Breman  Church 187,  188,  ] 89 

Briggs,  Rev.  T.  C 4.'.} 

Brighton  Church 38, 106,  135,  296,  297,  315 

Brink,  Rev.  C.  M Ii6 

Bristol,  Rev.  H.  C 264,  433 

Bristow,  P.  H  ,  Esq.... 433 

Brockway,  A.  C,  Esq. 371 

Bronson,  Brother,  Columbus  City. 315 

B  ooklyn  Church 87,  272,  326,  329 

Brooks,  Caleb 86 

Brooks,  Rev.  C 247,  263,  314,  363,  364 

Brookville  Church 134,  138,  141 

Brown,  Kev.  Charles  E ' 

36.  27,  28,  36,  46,  115,  117,  136,  199, 

201.  205,  307,  333,  334,  340,  341,  418, 

• 480,  (463,465) 

Brown,  D.  T.,  Esq., 288 

Brown,  Rev.  Geo.  H 390 

Brown,  Rev.  H.  A 271,  372.  273.  274.  4.58 

Brown,  James  W.  Esq., 241,  344 

Brown,  Rev.  John 208.  241 

Brown,  J 36 

Brown,  Rev.  W.  L 138,  301 

Brushy  Bend  Church 328 

Bryant.  Rev.  Z.  A 176,  222 

Bryant,  Rev.  J.  F 233 

Bryant.  S.  J.  B.,  Esq., 399 

Br\s()n.  Deacon  Wm 89 

Buehaiuiii  Church 246,383,  384 

Buckner,  Kev.  A.  B 386 

Buell,  C.  C 2.57 

Buffalo  Grove  Church 167,  277.  349 

Bullock,  Rev.  C i:J4,  189,  340 

Burch.  Rev.  E 248.  371,  393,  395 

Burdette.  Hon.  J.  W .308,  309.  433 

Burkett.  Rev.  E 300 

Burkholder.  Mrs.  J.  C 446,  499 

Burkholder,  Rev.  J.  C 

136,  147,  257,  263,  264,  288,  298,  499 

Burlev.  Joshua    Esq.. 268 

Burliii,u-t()n  As.sociation 101,  (2iB5,  310) 

Burlington  First  Baptist  Church 

104.  105,  106,  2S5,  306,  309 

Burlington  Second  Church 395 

Burlington  University 

38,  68,  70,  199,  429,  430.  455 
Burnett.  Rev.  Hiram 

26,  103, 103  105,  289,  395,  300,  305,  417.  494 

Burnham,  Rev.  E.  C.  M 136,  394,  470 

Burnham,  Rev.  G.  W. 333 


Hiirnham,  Rev.  S.  L 123, 

Hiiriisiflc  riuirch 

I'.ujr.  Rev.  J.  I) 371,  373,374,384, 

Hiiniiitztoii.  Ucv.  H.  H 221, 

IJmtoii.  HfV.  N.  S,  D.  D., 1^7, 

Uiish,  Ki'V.A.  1) 230, 

Utish.  Uov.  AlVii,  LL.  D 

4(i,  60.  199,  201,  221,  225,  3;«.  336.  344 

433,  449,  450,  456,  457, 

Hush,  Kev.  S.  T 

IJiittfM-liold.  Rev.  Isaac... 46,  08.  119.  121, 

MiittDii.  Kev.  A.  K 231,  2;r2, 

IJutts.  Key.  ('.  L 

Hynim.  Kev.  F.  N 

IJyi'dii.  Ivhvin  S 

n'vwater,  Kev.  .J.  (' 272, 

Cmlv.  Deacon  Edwin  107,  112,  305,  441,  442, 

Cadv,  D.  C,  £.^(1... 

( 'ady.  Re V.  E.  C 109.  248,  290,  304, 

( 'adv.  Mrs.  Lydia 

Cain,  A.  N 140, 

( 'ain,  Followers  of 

( 'ain,  Kev.  Ira  A ;i53,  354, 

Cain,  Mrs.  W.  A 

Cain,  Kev.  W.  A 174,  176, 

( 'ake.  Kev.  B.  S.  F. 

( 'alanuis  Creek  Church 37.5, 

Caledonia  Church 

Call.  Prof.  D.  F 458, 

<  all.  Ke\-.  L.  N.,  226,  228,  339,  362,  364,  365, 
Calvary  Baptist  Church  Davenport.  124, 

I  aTiiliria  Church 

Canulen  Church 238, 

( 'anii)bell,  Mrs.  E.  O 445, 

( 'amp  Creeli  Church 3f-'8, 

(  arhon  Church 250,  384, 

( 'are v.  Rev.  E 

Carev.  Rev.  J.  C 289 

Carlisle  Church 169,  170,  172, 

(  arlson.  Rev.  Peter. .' 

Carman,  Rev.  A.  H 

(  anialian.  Rev.  D,  F 3a8,  399, 

Cari)enter.  Rev.  A :i:iH.  370,273. 

Carpenter,  Rev.  Burton, 26,115,417, 

(  arinMiter,  Rev.  I.vnuin 119, 

(  aipenter.  Rev.  Wni . . .  .195,  371,  373,  374, 

Carrier.  L.  F..  Esq 

Carrinfiton.  Kev.  J  206. 

<  arroU  Church 

(  arson.  Rev.  Jose  h 375,  377, 

(  arson.  Rev.  W    F 

Carter,  Rev.  .7.  C 283, 

Carter,  Dr.  G.  W 

Cai-ter,  T.  R 

Cascade  Church 

"116,  197,  201),  202,   204,   205.  309.  311. 

335, 

Case,  Kev.  D.  T 189, 

Case,  Rev.  M.  M 370, 

Casey  Church 

easier.  Rev.  L 

Cassadv,  Rev.  J.  D,  171,  349,  350,  358,3.59, 

( 'astalia  (  hurch 339, 

Castana  Church 

Catlin,  l{ev.  <).  W 317, 

Caueli.  Rev.  .lohn 316,261,263, 

Cedar  (  liiireli.  Lee  County 

Cedar  Cluueli,  Van  Biireri  County 

Cedar  Creek  Cliureh 134,  32,5, 

Cedar  Ci-eek  Cliureli.  Iowa  Valley 

Cedar  I'allsCliurcli 43.46,  220. 

Cedar  Rapids  Church 46.  71.  357.  361, 

Cedar  Valley  Association..., 43.  199.  (319. 

Cedar  A'alley  Seminary 330.  3:i:5.  456. 

Center  Point  Church 256. 

Centerville  Association (155, 


137 
366 
3«5 
.234 
459 
326 


495 
230 
417 
2S! 
.268 
1331 
.38 
273 
.496 
396 
312 
441 
141 
.37 
355 
446 
248 
,246 
377 
369 
503 

4;« 

138 
193 
369 
446 
391 
386 
,  150 
301 
183 
.301 


449 
374 
467 
479 
385 
339 
2.57 
281 
378 
362 
397 
423 
112 


481 
476 
1383 
378 
190 
361 
342 
,280 
366 
269 
,286 
,286 
327 
.267 
222 
2f5 
356) 
457 
261 
164) 


Centerville  Church 14.5, 150, 155, 158, 

Centerville  Church,  Boone  County 

Central  Iowa  Association, 43,  (165.1171 

Central  Univei-sity  14.  38.   138,  142.  429._ 

455, 

Chamberlain,  Deacon  Aaron 397, 

Chambers,  Rev.  G i:iO, 

Chance.  Re\-.  .].  K 

Cliandh  r.  .Mrs.  Jemima 19,  21 

Chandler.  Klilui,  Death  of 

Chai>iii  Churcli 234, 

Chai)in,  Rev.  .A 

46.  7 1 ,  304,  ,3C5,  206,  210,  219, 230, 3.-5,     ■ 

357, 

Chaoman,  Prof.  C.  S 

Chapman.  Rev.  W 

(  harle.ston  Church 106. 

Chariton  River  Church 1.50', 

(  lieedle.  Rev.  R 86,  102, 

Cheetham.  Rev.  Joseph 

Che(iuest  Creek 83, 

Che(iuest  Union  Church 31,  145, 

Cherokee  Church.  380,  381,  387,  388,  389, 

Cherry  Grove  Church 

Chickasaw  Church 

Children's  Day  Contributions 

Childs.  Rev.  J.  F 

.  41,   46.   60.  63.   134.  137  139.  143,  175, 

3t)6.  357.  a51,  355,   360,  363,   378,  417, 

437,  458, 

Choate,  1  saiah 36, 

Christie,  Rev.  Isaac 189, 

Church  Building-  Fund 

Circular.  A     Important 

Civil  Bend  Church : 247, 

Civil  War,  The 

( 'lanton  Church 173,  279, 

Clapp,  Rev.  R.  A 137, 

Claiinda  Church 2:«.  238,  242,  249, 

(  larinda  (Colored)  Church 249. 

Clark.  John 31, 

Clark,  Rev  J.  A 

Clark,  M.  A 

Clark,  Rev.  T.  W 118,203,204. 

Clark,  W.  A..  Esq 

Clarksville  Church 220, 

Clay  Grove  Church 

Clayton  Cbunt v  Church 116, 

Clear  Creek  Church 123.  32.5, 

Clearfield  Church 385, 

Clearmont  Church 

Cleg-horn,  Rev.  A.,  D.  D 

Clement.  Jessee,  Esq.,... 200,  201.  203,  304, 

Clinton  Church 130,  126,  139, 

Clinton  ChTirch.  Linn  Association 

Cloud,  Rev.  H.8 

...  .135.  189,  -M)^.  371,  373,  374,  376,  378, 
Clo    gh.  Rev.  John  E 

15.  70.  73.  358.  398.  306,  314,  344,  430 
44;} 

Clouse,'  kev.  D.L  .'.'.'.291,  '2'9'2','293,'  366',  36'7, 

Clous  e.  Rev.  H.  H 364, 

Cloyd,  Rev.  L.  L.. 

Coal  Ridg-e  Church 

Coates,  Rev.  A.  B.. 


162 
3(i6 
185 


456 
476 
301 
1.58 
,65 
..(•5 
230 


263 
215 

3;w 

188 
1.55 
104 
137 
,84 
154 
390 
328 
220 
454 


4«1 
467 
479 
210 
.51 
2.50 
203 
374 
138 
251 
251 
23 
150 
197 
.500 
288 
222 
289 
a34 
328 
386 
341 
,260 
205 
131 


385 


(\)chran.  Rev.  W.  J.. 
Coffey,  Rev.  F.  M.... 
Cotfman.  Rev.  J.  P. . 
('off man.  Rev.  J.  W.. 
Cog-gshall.  Rev.  J.  M 

Coglan.  J.  S 

Coine  Bethel  Church.. 

Colby,  Rev.  A.  J 

Colby,  Lewis 

Cole,  Rev.  A.  T 

Cole,  Rev.  J.  L..134,  13' 


113, 

1.5:5.2.5], 

»)0,  312,  314, 

.  ..397,  30L  302,313, 

46,63,28.5,287. 


.237, 
'146,' 189;  240,  390, 


445 
380 
276 
.251 
.166 
231 
285 
293 
391 
329 
,477 
390 
2.51 
321 
.32 
437 
399 


Cole,  Deacon  Robert 503 

Colesburf?  Church 117 

Colgate,  Deacon  George  M.  .336,  338,  481,  483 

Colg-i  ove.  Rev.  Peter 231,  223,  475 

Colporteur  Work 33 

Colston,  Rev.  A 303 

Columbia  Church 2fi8 

Columbus  City  Church 295,  311 

Colvin,  Rev.  G.  T 3F5 

Colwell,  Rev.  A.J 234 

Colwell,  Rev.  T.  M 156 

Comanche  Church 117,  118,  119, 139,  465 

Comer,  J ^27 

Competine  Chvirch 139 

Compton.  Rev.  L.  F 177 

Co-ncorfl  Church 145,  1.50,  1.5.5, 1.56,  160 

Conser.  Rev.  O.  F.69,  171,231.250,251,252,415 

Con\va>'  ('lunch 384 

Cook,  Sister,  Mechanicsville 93 

Cook,  Rev.  W.  L 271 

Cooley,  Rev.  D.  H  .  D.  D..     

2h2,  253,  260,  261,  433,  437,  450 

Coon  Rapids  Church 380 

Coon  Valley  Assoriation (375,  382) 

Coon  Val leV  Clui rch 37.5,  377 

Coppoc,  Rev.  J.  L 261,  364,  275,  388,  389 

Corbett,  H  e v.  R 395,  396,  399 

Corey,  A.  W 49 

Corey  Grove  Church 166,  180,  346,  349 

Corey,  Rev.  J 349 

Corev,  Rev.  J.  C 269 

Correetidnville  Church 3?8,  391 

Corydon  (  lunch 189,  192 

Council  IShitl's  Association 2,50,253,394 

Council  Uliitls 43,  73,  74 

Council  lilulls  Church,.. 245,  346,  252,  394,  396 

Council  lUutts  Scandinavian  Church 352 

Council  Hill  Church 340 

Counties  in  1836 39 

Cox,  Rev.  A.  W 373 

Cox,  Rev.  J.  S 328 

Cramblet,  R  v.  S.  M 313,315 

Crandall,  Rev.  P.  S 327 

Crandall,  Rev.  T.  L 138,  214,  215,  331 

Crane,  B.  F..  Esq 303 

Crane,  Rev.  Eber 68,  290,  302,  .501,  .503 

Craven,  Dea.  Calvin.. 28,  56,   86,  112,311,333 

Craven,  Rev.  J.  G 171,  363,  339 

Crawford,  Elijah,  Esq 191,  193 

Crawford,  Rev.  H 371,  372 

Crawford,  Jennings,  Esq 257 

Cresco  Church  341 

Cressey,  Rev.  E.  K 227,  338,  340,  3.59 

Cressey.  Rev.  E.  T 175,  423,  449 

Cressev.  Rev.  T.  R 171,  431,  484, 485 

Cresto'n  (lunch 371,  384,  385 

Crisis  in  the  Dubuque  Church 314 

Critendcn,  M  rs.  Eliza  C 504 

Critondcn,  licv.  O.  L.  336,  328,  339,  427, 493,  504 

Crott)n  (  lunch 389 

Cumniiiifis.  Kev.  John 201,  203 

Cunningham,  Rev.  W.  C 348,  489 

Curr,  Rev.  Allan 213 

Currier,  Prof.  A.  N 433,  456 

Currier,  Rev.  Joshua 

46,  117,  168,  169,  198,  310,  340,  394,  427 

Curtis,  H.  G.,  Esq 138 

Curtis,  Rev.  1.  C 16,5,438 

Custer,  Rev.  C.  L 393,319 

Cutting,  Rev.  G.AV 339 

Cutting,  S.  S.  ,  D.  D 438 

Daily,  Rev.  N.  H 175,  194,  338,  314,  317 

Dakotali  Churches  in  Western  Iowa 

Association 280 

Dallas  Center  Church 377,  378,  380 


Dana,  Rev.  A 167 

Daniels,  Rev.  J.  W 233,  363,  282 

Danish  and  Norwegian  Baptist  Ch's 408 

Danville  Church 30,  38,  101,  103,  295,  308 

Darbey,  Rev.  Chancy 138,  398,  300,  437 

Daughters,  Rev.  C 147, 1.53 

Davenport 25,  27,  33,  38,  39 

Davenport  Association 

37,  32.  36,  95.  (115  to  133),  197,  464 

Davenport  Church. . .  .35,  38,  115,  121,  139,  465 

Daveni)()rr  Colored  Church 130 

Da\eiip<irt  German  Church 130 

Davenport  Second  Church 117,  119,  121 

Davenport,  Rev.  H.  G 201,  204 

David,  Col.  John  S 304 

Davies.  Rev.  John 250 

Davis  Creek  Church 296.  297,  311 

Davis,  Rev.  S.J 331 

Davis.  Rev.  S.  M 233 

Davis.  Rev.  T 139,  1.58,  188 

Day,  Spencer,  Esq  , 269,  270,  275,  427,  433 

Day,  Mrs.  S 427 

Dayton  Church 366 

Dean,  Rev.  S.  0 341 

Dean.  Rev.  J.  R 220,233,475 

Death  of  Rev.  A.  R.  Belden 119 

Death  of  Kev.  B.  F.  Brabrook 39 

Death  of  Rev.  M.  J.  Post 84 

Death  of  Rev.  Peter  Robinson 86,98 

Death  of  Rev.  A.  Starkweather 125 

Dcaven,  Rev.  J.  S 370 

Decatur  City  Church 237 

Declining  a  Call 96 

Dccorah  Church 55,  77,  78,  79,  339.  340 

Dedk-!iti< >n  at  ( niariton 190 

De<licati()n  at  Indianola 170 

Deei)  River  Church 335 

Delano,  Rev.  A.  J 

173,  275,  281,  383,  317.  370,  378,  394 

Delano.  Rev.  J.  H ".  .389,  362.  363,  36,5,  4.52 

Delaware  ( "hurch     11.5, 197,  300,  308.  ;5:55 

Dela  wari'  ( 'enter  Church 305,  208 

Delhi  Church 118.197,199,308,209 

Delphos  Church 387 

Delta  Church 331 

Denison,  A 26 

Denison  Church 43,  73,  277,  279,  283,  496 

Denison.  Rev.  J.  W.43,  74,  75,  277,  279, 283,  496 

Denmark  Church 109,  285 

Denominational  University 37 

Denton,  Rev.  J.  H 302,  304 

Depperman,  Rev.  H.  H  293 

Derr,  Mrs.  B.  F 440 

Des  Moines  Association,  The. 24,  35  (101,  114 
Des  Moines  First  Church. . .  .165, 169.  172,  180 

Des  Moines  East  Side  Church 173-4,  185 

Des  Moines  High  Street  Church 176-7 

Dewese,  Rev.  S 187,  188 

Dewev,  Mrs.  Ada  Garton .504 

DeWi'tt  Church 117,  119,  121,  139 

DeWitt,  Rev.  J.  V 198,  2.5.5,  2.56,  260,  263 

DeWolf,  Rev.  C.  H 264,  365,  275,  4.53 

Dexter  Church 376,  377 

Dickerson,  Dev.  Felix •.  — 139 

Dickinson,  Mrs.  S.  M 427,  446 

Dickinson.  Dr.  W.  M 433 

Dillaway.  G.  W.,  Esq., 433 

Dispute  between  Iowa  and  Missouri 30 

Dixon,  Rev.  James 121 

Division  of  Des  Moines  Association 106 

Dodd,  Rev.  D.  S 3.53 

Dooley,  Rev.  H 146 

Doon  Church 391 

Dorward,  Rev.  W.  A 248,  393 

Dorward,  Rev.  W.  H 141,  283,  391 

Doty,  Rev,  P 340 


Dougherty,  Rev.  G.  G 233 

Douglass  Church 175 

Douglass,  Rev.  J.  C 129,  263.340 

Dougliis,  Rev.  J.  L 60 

Dow  ( 'ity  Church 283,  28;j 

Dowd,  Rev.  (i .  W 123,  ;«0.  491 

Dowd's  Stiition  Church 29J 

Dowuitij;-  Church 125,  12T,  131 

Drake,  Rev.  .1.  R 371,  372 

Drill  Camps 142 

Druiinnond,  Rev.  W i:$4, 1S9 

Duboc,  Rev.  A.  M 2.34.  264,  281,  43;} 

Dubu<iue  Association 42,  44,  I19{  2i)7,  218) 

Dubutiue  Church. .  .25,  96,  11.5,  197-9,  209-14-17 

Dul)U(iue  Second  Church 204 

Dunlav.  A.  H.,  E.s(i 1S9 

Dunlap  Church 280-1,  2a3 

Dunlap,  Rev.  R 126,  2S0 

Dunn,  Mrs.  L.  A 445 

Dunn,  Rev.,  L.  A.,  D.D 4.56 

Dwight.  Rev.  A 267 

Dve.  Rev.  Daniel 2 

Dye.  Rev.  E.  P 340 

Dye,  R.  E.,  Esq 194,  370,372 

Eagle  Grove  Church a59,  364 

Earlham  Chui'ch 171 

East  Cnnid  River  Association  242  (369,  374) 
East  Nodaway  Association  249,  371,  (383,  386) 

East  Shoal  Creek  Church 150,  155,  163 

Eaton,  Rev.  Edwin,  D.  D 

63,  125,  427,  431,  437,  486 

Eaton,  Rev.  Horace 28,  210 

Eaton,  Rev.  W.  H 160,  163,372 

Eberhart,  Rev.  A.  G 

46.  63,  118-9,  129.  220,  3;S,  226.  228,417,  495 
Educational  (^'onvention  at  Iowa  City  .38.  39 
Educational  Convention  at  Oskaloosa 

and  Pella 38 

Eden  Association 42,  5.5,  (187,  196) 

Eddy ville  Church 84,  103,  137 

Ed'  n  Church 221 

Edge  wood  Church 340,  342 

Edniinster,  Rev.  J.  120-1,  3.58,  389,  390,  418,  449 
Edmonson,  Rev.  J.  B....1.53,  234,  350,  29J,  391 

Edson.  Rev.  A 110 

Edwards,  Rev.  Morgan 

46,  109,  113,287,296,  470 

Edson,  Rev.  I.  W 333,  253,  366 

Edwards,  Rev.  Abel 146 

Edwards,  Rev.  A.  C 153,  158,  193,  331,  371 

Edwards,  Rev.  E.  S 361,267 

Edwards,  Rev.  F 

15f.,  157,  158,  194,  195,  241,  369,  371 

Edwards,  Rev.  G.  G 46,  219,  267,  270,  484 

Egan,  Rev.  C.  B 301 

Eggleston,  Rev.  W.  A 

46,  75,  109,  379,  285,  286,  476 

Eldora  Church 267,  273 

Eldridge,  Rev.  F.  N..3.51,  264-5,  341-2,  365,  4.52 
Eldridge,  Rev.  Geo.  E..  .161,  163,  273,  318,  dMi 

Ellege,  Rev.  J 167,  278,  279 

Ellingwood,  Rev.  L 228 

Elliott,  Rev.  Wm.  .26-7,  36,  8:3-6,  103-4, 134, 

318,  319,  325,  326,  328,  4f)3,  470 

Ellis,  Rev.  D.  C 175,  248-9,  264,  370,  38!?,  391 

Elm  Grove  Church 172 

Elmore,  Rev.  G 240,  369 

Elmore,  Rev.  Shaplv 103 

Elton,  Rev.  E.  N 126 

Elwell,  Rev.  W.  D 318,  319 

Emerson  Church 249,  251,  2.52,  2.53 

Emerson,  Rev.  C.  T 229,  349,  2.52 

Emer.y,  Rev.  A.  G 339 

Emmanuel  Church 374 

English,  Rev.  E 364,  275 


English  River  Association 

13.5,  137,  173,  273,  (32.5,  3^2) 

Enoii  (  hiuch 1?2 

Ei>wnit  h   (  hurch K»9,  20.5,  209,  210,  213 

Erie  (  hurch,  Ihichanan  County 

60,  200,  S34,  3:39 

Esse.v  Church 249 

Eureka  Church 313,  319 

Evangelism  in  Iowa 470 

Evans,  Rev.  Alexander 24,  26,  65, 101, 103 

Evans,  Rev.  E 165 

Evans.  Rev.  .John 240,  369 

Everett.  Dr.  A.  W 189,  479 

Everett,  Rev    \V.  D 165,  177 

E.\ira  Church 397,  »«) 

Fairbank  Church 221 

Fairfield  Church. 31,  57.  84,  103,  133,  297,  3a3-5 

Fairview  (  hurch 44.  116,  197,  199,  255,  :$i5 

Fairview  Church,  S.  W.  Assn 24V(,  374 

Fales,  Jas./r 86,  417-8 

Farmersville  Church 328 

Farmington  Church 25,  38,  103.  385 

Farnsworth,  Rev.  C.  D 

77,  117,  198,  208,  235,  338 

Farquarson,  Rev.  J 146 

Farr,  Rev.  A.  L 353,  ^55,  3.56,  .504 

Fay,  Rev.  R a58 

Fayette  Church 60,  3;w 

Fenton,  Rev.  F.  M 150 

Ferguson  Church 37.5,  376 

Ferguson,  Rev.  J 134,  137,  146 

Ferguson,  Rev.  Solomon 329 

Ferris,  Rev.  J.  M 213-3 

Field.  Rev.  Henry  L 208-9,  390 

Financial  Agent,  The  Ideal 58 

Financial  Agent 56,  58,  61.  98 

Firman.  Rev.  A.  G 198,3.56 

First  Agent  Ai)])ointed 56 

First  .Vssdciation  Organized 33 

First  liai>tisiii  at  Hiuiington 105 

First  liaptist  Church  Organized 20 

P'irst  Mecting-hduscs  (nr  Raiitists 115 

First  Missionary  A))i)()intiuent .55 

Fish,  Rev.  H.  S 173,377 

Fisher,  Dea.  Abijah 397,  477 

Fisher,  Rev.  Ezra. . .  .2.5,  11.5,  346,  417,  480,  487 

Fisher.  H.  S  ,  Esq 283,  383 

Fisher,  Rev.  L.  J 373 

Fi.\ing  Time  of  Association 37 

Flint  River  Church 295 

Florence  Church 261 

Floris  Church 153 

Flovd  (  hurch 221 

Fol'^vell,  Rev.  G.  W 120-1 

Forbes.  Dea.  C.  W 477 

Forbey,  Prof.  Theo 4.56 

Ford,  Rev.  B.  F 152 

Ford,  D.  W 112,  286,  433 

Foresight  of  Our  Baptist  Fathers 35 

Forest  Home  (  hurch 138,  338 

Forrest  ville  (  hureh 311,  340 

Ft.  Dcs  .Moines  Church 103,  106 

Fort  Dodge  (  hureh a50,  353,  a55 

Forward.  Re\  .  DeWitt  W 4.56 

Ft  Madison  ( 'hurch 110,  112,  28.5,  286 

Foskett,  Rev.  H.  B 250,  275 

Foster,  Rev,  F.  W 282 

Foster,  Rev.  J.  C 2.51 

Vox  River  Association. .  .31.  42,  (145,  1.54)  162 

Fo.\-  River  Church 103,  1*3 

Frain,  A.  H.,  M.  D 389 

Francis,  .lohn  and  Hiram 334 

Franklin  Church    l.':5,  1.57,  164,  190 

Frazee,  J.  S.,  Esq  3.51 

Frederick  Church 13.8 


Frederica  Church 221 

Fredericksburg'  Church 221 

Fredonia  Church 379 

Freedom  Church 238 

Freedom  ( "hurch.  Fox  Klver  Assn 147 

Frt'einan.  Kev.  A.  D 125 

Freeman.  Kev.  G.  W 361,  362 

Fremout  Church 134,  146,  328 

French,  H.  C  ,  Esq 249,  250 

Frescohi,  Rev.  L 288,  293,  49j,  491 

Frey,  Kev.  J 

. . .  .135,  ]41,  171,  301,  303,  314,  325,  330,  .504 

Frey,  Rev.  J.,  Sr 331,  493 

Frey,  Mrs.  Ruth : 504 

Friendship  Church 270 

Frisk,  Rev.  L.  L 

46,  168,  298,  299,  301,  aSO,  349,  350,  361 

Frodig-,  Kev.  C.  P 3.54 

Fuller,  Mrs.  A.  W. . .  .• 446 

Fuller,  Kev.  A.  W 265,  307,  308 

Fuller,  Kev.  H.  E 264,  265 

Fuller,  Kev.  J.  B 299,300 

Fulton,  Mrs.  John 445 

Fulton,  Rev.  John. . .  .46,  63,  164,  175,  221, 

223,  224. 225. 257.  261,  427,  4^0 

Fulton,  R.  B.,  Let  er  From 122 

Funk.  Rev.  Solomon 173,  a56,  371 

Furman,  Rev.  A.J 139 

Gag-e,  Rev.  L.  L., 271 

Gaines,  Rev.  F.  M 379,  380 

Gardner,  Rev  F.  W 233 

Gardner,  Rev.  G.  W.,  D.  D. 456,  4.59 

Garton,  Miss  Naomi. . ! 15  444 

Garton,  Kev  K 172-3,  229,  231,  236 

Garton,  Dea.  Thomas 427 

Garton,  Mrs.  Thomas 427 

Gates,  Rev.  F.  A 119,  493 

Gates,  Rev.  G.  W 259 

Gates.  Rev.  W.  J 247 

Gay  Street  Chu  rch 3S6 

Geer  Creek  t'hureh 176 

(General  Mi.^^sionarv...  .61,  76,  78,  140,  160,  217 

Geneseo  (  liureh. .". . .  .* 228,  230 

German  Hap'r  Association  of  Iowa.  .406,407 

German  .Mission  Society 40 

G  ibbs.  Rev 223 

Gibbs,  S.  G.,  E-sq a52 

Gifford  Church 272, 275 

Gilbert,  Kev.  J.  M 377,  378,  379 

Given,  Kev.D 158,  160,  189,  193,  265 

Glasgow  Church 108,  112,  285 

Glenwood  Church 78,  243,  246,  250 

Goldfleld  Church  365 

Golding,  Mrs.  P.  P 501 

Golding.  Kev.  Wm 38;^ 

Goldsby,  Rev.  B.  F 281,302 

Goldthwaite,  N.  E.,  Esq 345,  365.  366,  458 

Goodell.  W.  S.,  Esq 248,  249,  252 

G(M)<lcn<)uj;h,  Rev.  G.  C 155,293 

Good  Hope  Church 167 

Goodman.  Edward,  Esq 461,462 

Goodrich.  Rev.  G   W 226 

Gorham,  Kev.  Geo.  H 117 

Goshen  (  hurch 191,  3m 

Gowrie  Church 363 

Graham,  Rev.  H.  E 253,  374 

Grand  Junction  Church 363,  365 

Grand  Meadow  Church ;i39,  342 

Grand  River  Church 242,  369 

Grant  Center  Church 384,  386 

Grant  City  Church 280,  283,  365,  367 

Gray,  Rev.  J 331 

Gray,  Fev.  R.  F 289 

Gray,  Rev.  W.  F 284 

Great  Bend  Church 347,  349,  3.58,  364 


Great  National  Crisis,  The 122 

Green,  Rev.  A.  M 187,188 

Green,  Rev.  E.  W 341,  342 

G  reen,  Kev.  Hazzard 222,  225,  481 

Greenbush  Church 167 

Greenfield  Church 374 

Greenfield,  Rev.  Calvin 25 

Greenlee.  Rev.  L.  L 188,  193,  195 

Green  Mountain  Church 267 

Gi  egorv,  D.  D r 121 

Gregson,   Rev.  M 134,  329,  332 

Griffith,  Rev.  T.  S 

32,  46,  .50,  63,  lOU,  197,  201,  285,  287,  ;i51,  418 
Grinnell  Church.  .88, 184, 185,  267,  270,  407,  411 
Groat,  Kev.  B.  G.  O.,  221,  222,  247,  271, 

280.  334.  347,  355,  363,  366,  377,  427 

Groat.  Mrs.  Rebecca.  Death  of 316 

Grove  Hill  Church •J23,  225 

Grundy  Center  Church 270.  272,  274,  275 

Guild,  Kev.  H.  A 126 

Guild,  Kev.  J.  Ellis 167 

Gunn,  Mrs.  A 427 

Gunn,  Kev.   Elihu,  D.  D  ,  50-1,  54,  105, 

]a5.  292-3,  296-7,413,  418,  423,  424,  427,  456. 

Gunn,  Rev.  S.  H 160 

Gunn,  Kev.  W.  C 444,  445 

Gunnison,  Kev.  G.  W 136.  247,  4r;5 

Gunter,  Rev.  J.  T 150 

Guthrie  Center  Church 278.  375,  379 

Hazy,  Mrs  .John 83 

Hahn,  Rev.  C.  F 216 

Haines.  Rev.  A 189 

Haines,  Rev.  A.  F 148,  155,  157,  160 

Haley,  Rev.  H 166 

Half,  Rev.  H.  H 2U4,  270 

Hall,  Rev.  D  ,  Howard 215 

Hall,  Rev.  E.  H ^39,  240,  243 

Hall,  Rev.  J..  D.  D 226,  228,  459,  501 

Hall,  Rev.  L.  A 234 

Hampton  Church 224 

Handsoiie  View  ('hurch 166 

Hanlev.  Kev.  R.  R 245,  248,  252 

Hannah.  Rev.  F.  H 229,  390 

Hardin  City  Chur.  h 223 

Hardin  Church 46,  200,  337 

Harding,  Rev.  O.  S 198 

Harycr.  Mrs   S.  E 215 

Hailan  (  hurch 246,  248,  393,  395 

Harlan  Deacon  Samuel,  326-7-8-9.  399,  4C0,  504 

Harrington,  Rev.  J.  C 341 

Harris,  Kev.  A.  H 258,479 

Harrison  Church 265 

Hart,  Rev.  J.  C 366 

Hartford  Church 166,  169,  181,  183 

Hartlev  Church 390 

Hartman,  E.  W 170 

Hartshorn,  Rev.  R.  D 168,  169,269 

Hatch.  Kev.  W.J 318 

Hatfield,  Kev.  E 378 

Huwardcn  Church 391. 

Hawk,  Kev.  J.  B 281,  313,  462 

Hawley,  H.  H.  Esci 296 

Hawley,  Theo.  Esq 352 

Hawleyville  Church 237 

Hayden  Grove  Church 238,  369,  Sas 

Ha.yhurst.  Kev.  L   W. . .  .170,  801,  359,  427,  449' 

Hays,  J.  Esq 2.56 

Hays,  Rev.  N 134,  138,  188,  189,  503 

Hazen,  Rev.  F.N 367 

Hazen,  Rev.  Marion 259,  483 

Headly,  Stephen 26 

Heagle.  Rev.  D 175,  361.  366 

Heart  Treasures 92 

Hebron  Church 283 

Hedrick  Church 141 


Heilner.  Re  v.  J.  F 283,  396,  397 

Helena  Chiireh 269 

Henderson.  I'rof.  James 300,  427,  455 

Hendricksoii.  Hev.  J 504 

Henrv,  Rev.  H.  C 22S 

Herring-,  Rev.  R.  I).  C 4S} 

HortzoK,  Rev.  Georg-o  A 305-6-7,  ;i'-'6 

HertzoK,  Rev.  G.  W ^139,  171,  175 

Hesperian  ("hurch S61,  364,  3f5 

Hewson,  Itev 474 

Heybui  n.  Rev.  E.  M 390,  391 

Hibbard,  Rev.  L.  B 264 

Hicliory  Grove  Church 116,  119 

Hickory  Grove  Church,  Fox  River  As'n,153 
Hieliory  Grove  Church,  East  Grand 

River  Association 371,  3?3.  3?4 

Hicks,  Rev.  E.  B 137 

Hicks,  Rev.  H.  R 370 

Higgins,  Rev.  C.  E,  191,  193-4,  216,  3<i6-7,  423 

Higgins,  Mrs.  C.  E 446 

Hi^gins,  Dea.  John 268 

Highland  Church 193 

Hildreth,  Rev.  Wm 136,  169,  174,  189 

Hill,  Rev.  F 251,2.52,337,365 

Hill,  Rev.  James 

...  .202,  2fl6,  209,  210,  211,  213,  215,  217,  488 

Hill,  Rev.  Joshua 375,  378,  492 

Hill,  Rev.  Samuel 198 

Hilton.  Rev.  A.  W 22.5,  280,  338,  339,  388 

Hilton.  Geo.  F..  Esci. 292 

Hinchnian,  Mrs.  J.  v 2.50 

H  isco.x.  Rev.  E.  F 129,  433 

Hiseox,  Rev.  H.  0 388,  389 

Hi.xon,  Rev.  R  C 288 

Hockett,  Rev.  Jacob 281,  394 

Hollanders 84 

HoUen,  Rev.  S 240,  369 

HoUingsworth,  Rev.  B 331 

Holmes,  Rev.  Horace 128,  199,  2.56 

Holmes,  Rev.  Luther. . .  .198,  201,  204,  208,  479 
Holmes,  Rev.  O.  A 

43.  46,  118,  199,  201,  207,  270,  272,  273, 

275,  349,  351,  353,  3.55,  427,  437,  479 

Holroyd,  Rev.  C 233 

Homan,  Rev.  N.  B 199,  2.55,  257,  2.53 

Home  Mission  Society,  Missionaries 

of 22,  2.5,  28,  45,  46 

Homer  Church 3.54,  362,  365 

Honey  Creek  (^'hurch 267 

Hooks,  Rev.  Wm.  F 377,  380 

Hope.  Rev  J ames  M 104,  105 

Hope\ille  Clnirch .147 

Hopewell   Church ir,0-3 

Hopkins  Church 384 

Hopkins,  Rev;  A.  J 147 

Hopkins.  Rev.  J 370 

Hopkinton  (  hurch 199 

Hoi)))('r.  Rev.  J.  E. 301,304,333,  4,59 

Horton  (  hurch 220 

Hough,  Rev.  J.  W 217,  291,  384 

H<)ughton,  Rev.  George 131,  217,  273,  360 

Houses  of  Worship 186 

Hously,  Noble 20 

Howard  Grove  Church 313-4,  ;«6,  328,  3:50 

Howard,  Rev.  W.  G 386 

Howell,  Mrs.  A.  F .503 

Howell.  Rev.  A.  F 264,  27.5,  503 

Howell,  Dr.  J.  (i 427 

Hovt,  Hev.  N.  F.,..-. 212-3,  231,  488 

Hu'libMrd,  Hufus,  Es(i 285,  28(i.  2SS 

Muhliiii-d,  Charles,  Es<i H3,  286-8 

Huckabv.  Rev.  A 150,  1.55 

H u mboldt  Church 359,  365.  366 

H u nt,  Re\-.  A 234,  363,  ;564,  378,  380 

Hunt,  Rev.  Harmon 379 

Hunt,  Rev.  S.  G 166 


Hunt,  Rev.  E.  W 307 

Huuter.  Rev.  Wm.  L 223-4.5-6-9,  234,  264 

Huntsman,  Dr.  H.  C i^i 

Huntsman,  Mrs.  H.  C. 440 

Hurd,  Rev.  J.  C 272-3,  304,  422,  433,  492 

Huron  Clnireh 29.5,  303 

Hutchinson  and  Whitney,  Deacons 477 

Ida  Grove  Church 2)-2-3-4 

Illyria  Church ;«4,  337 

Ind,  Rev.  Thomas  M 46,  110,  268 

Indei)oiHlciie('  Church 21.5,  220 

Indiaiiola  (  lunch 170,  172, 185 

Indian  Prairie  Church 151^ 

Ingraham  Church 251 

Inskeep,  Rev.  Phineas. . .150,  286,  287, 183,  484 

loka  Church 331 

Iowa  .Ass'ii  (it  colored  Baptists 401,  4G6 

Iowa  Baptist  Assn.  .Mectnigs  ol..  .101-2,  112 
Iowa  l!ai)iist  Church  Building  Society. .  .212 
Iowa  Baptist  Educational  Society  The 

67.  69,  55,  426 

Iowa  Baptist  State  Conventions,  Meet- 
ings of 

26,  35,  37,  .39,  49,  .51, 61,  71,  86,  102.  417,  424 
Iowa  Baptist  State  Convention  Mis- 
sionaries of  

65,  57.  63,  188,  224,  238,  255,  418,  (419,  42:j) 
Iowa  Baptist  Sunday  School  Union., 447,  •151 
Iowa  Baptist   Union   for  Ministerial 

Education 14,  1.5,  (42.5,  434) 

Iowa  Center  Church 166,  169,  180,  349 

Iowa  City 27,  36,  38,  .39,  95 

Iowa  City  Church 

27,  115,  117,  119,  129,  131,  (466,  469) 

Iowa  Falls  (  hurch 350,  353,  a55,  356,  363 

Iowa  Valltv  Ass'n 44,  220,  (267,  276) 

Iron  Bedstead  of  Baptists 185 

Iron  Hill  Church 2l0,  20l 

Irvin.  Robcrr,  Esq 423 

Irwin,  Rev.  W.  H 212 

Isadora  Church 310 

Ivens,  Rev.  D 238 

Ives,  Deacon  Elisha 478 


Jackson,  Rev.  A 

Jackson,  Rev.  C.  J.  B 262, 

Jackson,  Rev.  John 3136,  338, 

Jackson  Township  Church 2.57, 

Jacksonville  Church 

Jacobs,  Rev.  A 2.5.3,  386, 

James,  Rev.  W.  E 297,  299, 

Janesville  Church 

Jarvis.  Dr 

Jasensky.  Rev.  F.  M 

Jefferson  Church,  Henry  County — 107, 

Jefferson,  Greene. County 75,  277, 

Jeffries,  Rev.  James. . .  .130,  317,  332,  a56, 

JEHOVAH  JIRAH 

Jenkins,  I.  F'..  Esq 

Jenks.  Rev.  E.N 

Jennings,  Bro.,  Columbus  City 

Jessup  Church 21.5,  224, 

Jcwett,  Rev.  Daniel 26,  86,  102,  103, 

.Tohns,  Rev.  Daniel 

Johnson,  A.  A  ,  Esq 340, 

Johnson,  Rev.  (.'.  G 

Johnson,  Rev.  G.J 

63,  68,  72,  110,  112.  117,  147,  198,  20ti, 

.  . .  .225,  246,  278,  285,  287,  309,  430,  450, 
Johnson,  Rev.  Hezckiah 

.  .24,  26,  28,  101,  102,  346,  417,  460,  480, 
Johnson,  Rev.  J.  C 

131,  206,  210,  263,  274,  315, 

Johnscm,  Rev.  J.  G 214,  232, 

Johnson,  Rev.  S.  B 117, 


1.55 
339 

481 
261 
22:3 
397 
300 
220 
268 

:3()7 

295 
361 
359 
.97 
1.53 
388 
315 
228 
498 
486 

;u] 

3.58 


470 


316 

370 
418 


Johnson,  Rev.  W.  G 388,  289,  290 

J  ones,  Ke V.  Edward 129 

Jones,  Rev.  E.  M 293 

Jones,  Rev.  F.  G 366 

Jones,  Rev.  H.  M 309 

Jones,  Rev.  Isaac  C 206 

Jones,  Rev.  J.  W 281 

Jones,  Rev.  R.  L 224 

Jones,  Rev.  T.  H 317,  318 

Jones,  Rev.  T.  W 189 

Jones.  Rev.  S 391 

Jordan's  Grove  Church 2.55,  257,  261 

Joy,  Royal  N.,  Esq 290 

Jucison,  Rev.  T.  H,  223,  224,  238,  355,  3.59,  389 
Just  as  little  as  possible 414 

Kay,  Rev.  James.  199,  201,  20.5, 207, 208,  2.57,  481 

Kees,  Rev.  J.  A 399 

Keith,  Rev.  T.  J.  .1.5,  175,  213,  231,  232,  433,  443 

Keley,  Rev.  A.  C  129,  317 

Kelley,  Mrs.  Ann  B 429,  431 

Kelley  Church m6 

Kelsey,  C.  D.,  Esq 268 

Kempsey,  Rev.  M.  C 260,  3.59 

Kendrick  Church 280,  365 

Kenney,  Ira  E  ,  D.  D 282,  283,  4.58 

Kent  Church 384 

Ken  von.  Rev.  A 124 

Keokuk  Church  38,  39,  46, 104, 107,  385,  389,  293 
Keokuk  Assoc  ation. . .  .93,  101,  383,  (38.5,  394) 

Keokuk,  First  African  Church 387,  389 

Keokuk,  Second  Church .57,  38,5,  287 

Keokuk  Prairie  Church 181 

Keosau(iiJa  Church 2,5,  103,  133 

K(  Ota  (Inirch 314,  319 

Ki<l   i-r    Kev.  F 361,338,340 

K  i  1  d u IK  li urch 176 

Kiiuliall,  Rev.  C.  H 314 

Kincade,  Rev.  Rev.  J 1.57 

Kincaid,  Rev.  Dr 170,  370,  414 

King,  Rev.  R.3.5,  .5.5,  198,  3.55-6-9,  399,  300-8,  449 

Kingdon,  Rev.  J 1.37,  138 

King-ston  Church 197, 199,  3.55 

Kinman,  Rev.   E 147,  1.50,1.53 

Kinni'N,  Miss  E.  Maljel 391 

Kisscll,  Kev.  Jacob  318 

Knapp,  Kev.  W.  B 104,  473 

Knight.  Rev.  J.  B 295 

Knoxville  Church.  .133,  166,  169,  172,  173,  179 

Lackey,  Rev.  J.  M 125 

Lacy  Grove  Church 247,  2.50 

Lake  City  Church 379,  363,  365 

Lakeport  Church 391 

Lakins  Grove  Church 353 

Lamb,  Rev.  M.  T. . .  .136,  156,  313,  303,  303,  4.51 

Laniliert,  Rev.  J 339,  346,  248 

Lanikin,  Kev.  L.  D 231,379 

LaM(jtte  Church 31,  116,  197,  210,  312 

Lane,  James  T.  Esq 124 

Lane,  Rev.  W.  H 388,  390 

Langridge,  Rev.  R.  J 317,  305,  318,  333 

Lansing,  Kev.  L.  L 138-9 

Last  Anniversary  of  the  Des  Moines 

Association 113 

Leach,  Clement,  Jr 499 

Learned,  Rev.  W.  C 33.5-6 

Leavitt,  Rev.  S.  K 390 

Lebanon  Church 145 

LeClaire  Church. .  ..3.5,  38,  46,  119,  129,  464,  465 
Lee,  Rev.  Jonathan. .  .93,  110,  285,  293,  293,  295 

Lee,  Dea.  P.  A 304 

Lee.  Rev.  Samuel  W 173 

Leek,  Rev.  J.  F 2.52 

Leggett,  Rev.  Wm 352 

Leland,  Rev.  H.  C 374 


Lemon,  Rev.  James 21,  37 

Lemon,  Rev.  J.  G 393 

Lemon,  Rev.  Moses 31,  26 

Lennox  Church  384,  3:6 

Leon  Church 31,  194,  373 

Leonard,  Rev.  F.  W 398 

Leonard,  Rev.  Isaac 68,  108,  113,  395,  306 

Leonard,  Rev.  O.  L 303 

Leslie,   Rev.   Robert,  125,  229,  280-1,  261-2,  431 

Lester  and  Barclay  Church. ..;..-. 323 

Lewelling,  Rev.  J 386-7,  291 

Lewis  Church 241-2,  393 

Lewis,  D.  v..  Esq 146,  148,  1.56,  163 

Lewis,  E.  E  ,  Esq 423,  4*3,  449 

Lewis,  Rev.  J,  C 371 

Lewis,  Rev.  G.  W 138,  361 

Liberty  Church 31,  103,  385,  288 

Libert\- Church,  Fo.x  River  Ass'n,   145,  150 

Libert vville  Church 31,  133 

Lime  Springs  Church 339,  341,  465 

Line,  Rev.  G.  J 146 

♦infield,  Mrs.  G.  F 446 

Linfleld,  Rev.  G.  F 130 

Linn  Association 44,   199,  (2.5.5-266) 

Linn  Grove  Church 197,  199,  255 

Linskea,  Rev.  J.  B 370 

Lippett.  Rev.  C • 160 

Little  Flock  Church 1.5.5,  1,58,  188 

Little  Mount  Church 134,  338,  330,  332 

Littler,  Hon.  Nathan 

47,  397,  391,  311,  318,  323,  433 

Liverraore  Church 364 

Livermore,  Rev.  L.  S 1.58,:i91,  263,  270 

Location  of  Central  University 38 

Location  of  Burlington  University 38 

Lockwood,  Rev.  E.  J 385 

Logan  Church 380,281 

Logan,  Elder  John 20,  31 

Lohrville  Church  366 

Lone  Tree  Church 129,  131 

Lone  Willow  Church 252 

Long,  Rev.  J.  T 261,  314,  319,  330 

Long  Creek  Baptist  Church 20,  441 

Longfellow,  Rev.  N.  M 188 

Loom  is.  Kev.  E 489 

Loughridge.  Kev.  A 1.5,44-3 

Louisa  Center  Church 313 

Lovegren,  Rev.  Andrew  E .504 

Lovelace,  Rev.  L 391 

Lovilla  Church 136 

Lowe,  Rev.  A.  D 369 

Lukins,  Rev.  J.  N 338 

Luverne  Church 365 

Lyons,  Rev.  A.  H 131,  364,  333,  374 

Lyons  Church 40,  120,  121,  139 

Mabie,  Rev.  J.  S 449 

Mace,  Rev.  B.  F. 141,  160,  163,  193 

Macedonian  Appeals 96 

Mack,  Rev.  J.  M .503 

Mackey,  Rev.  A 379,  3-(0 

Mackey,  Mrs.  Naomi 379,  381 

Madison  Church 326 

Magnolia  Church 3S1 

Main  Street  Baptist  Church,  Davenport.  133 

Makee  Church 197,  199 

Malahan,  A.  J.,  Esq 264 

Malcolm  Church 329 

Malvern  Church 247,  349,  253 

Manchester  Church 199,  300,  304,  308,  211 

Manly,  Wm 19 

Manson  Church 364 

Mapleton  Church 279.  281,  383 

Ma(iuoketa  Church,  3L  *»,  11.5-6-7, 19  r. 

202,  207,  209,  310,  313,  465 

Marchant,  S.  A.,  Esq 308 


Marengo  Church 2T3.  275,  326 

Marietta  Church 268 

Marion  Church 31,  38,  116-7,197,  199,  235 

Marit)!!  Church,  Washing-ton  County 296 

Marlev,  .7.  A.,  Esq 382,  ;^85 

Marsh.  Itev.  A 22!^ 

Marsh,  Kev.  F.  A 228,433 

Marshalltown  <'hurch 42,  269,  270,  271,  274 

Mars  Hill  Church 145 

Martell  Church 26;j 

Martin,    Kev.  C 139 

Martin,  Rev.  J.  A 243,244 

Martin,  Rev.  L.  E 24!) 

Martinsburg  Church 13,5,  326 

Maryatt.  Rev.  D.  P 226,349 

Mason  City  Church 22.5,  233 

Mason,  Rev.  D.N 

171-2,  217,  226-7,  2a3,  272,  360,  419,  4;« 

Mason,  Rev.  G.  L.  and  Wife 444 

Mason,  R.  C 26 

Masonvnlle  Church 205 

Massena  Church 399 

Masterson,  Rev.  A.  B 271 

Mather,  Henzibah 19 

Mather,  Wni 21 

Matthews,  Amos 26 

Maxon,  Rev.  T.  A 130,  3!tl 

Mavbin,  Rev.  D.  C 295,  296 

McAlister,  Rev.  H 289 

McAuley,  Rev.  R.  P 291 

McCluen,  Kev.  J.  F 377 

McCoid,  Hon.  M.  A 298,302 

McCoy,  Rev.  J 339,  aSl 

McCulley,  Rev.  J 262 

McEwcn,  Rev.  F.J 13.5,  146 

McEwen,  Rev.  Wm 1:35,  481 

McGlasson,  Rev.  J.  B 106 

McGoneg-al,  Mis.  M.  A 445,  446 

McGregor  Church 336,  337,  340,  342,  481 

Mclntvre.  Rev.  J.  J 232 

McKay,  Rev.  Uriah 172 

McKendrick,  Rev.  W.  N 283 

McLeod,  Rev.  P.  M 389,  390 

Mc>tahill,  Rev.  J.  W 140 

McManis.  Hov.  C.  A 282,  390,  391 

McSpailden,  Kev.  J.  C a30 

McSiJurren.  Re V.  J.  S 389,  390 

Meachaiu,  Rev.  Samuel 386 

Mead,  Rev.  D.  B 320,  231 

Meadow  Brook  Church 361,  364 

Mechanicsville  Church 93,  260,  263 

Meier,  Rev.  Jacob 138 

Memory  Church 383 

Mercer,  Kev.  J.  T 341,  Wi9 

Merriam,  Rev.  J.  F ;503,  304 

Merrick,  Rev.  O.  M 372,3:29 

Messenger.  Rev.  J 173,  370 

Middle  (  reek  Church VM 

Middle  Valley  Church 245 

Miles,  Elder 334 

Miles,  Rev  E.  M.,  48,  117,  119,  123,,  136,  417,476 

Miles,  Rev.  Geo.  1 119,473 

Miles,  Rev.  J.  C 268,  269,  32.5,  326,  327 

Milford  Church 244,  391 

Millard,  Rev.   H.  N.,  139,  262,  263,  363,  364,  503 

Mill  Creek  Church 119, 121 

Miller,  Rev.  J.  Christian 190,  219 

Miller,   Rev.  J.  C.  H.,  333-4,  a54,  355,  a59,  363 

Miller,  J.  H.,  Esq 341 

Miller,  Rev.  J.  H.,  138,  1.51,  176,  390,  ;304, 

:«),  312,  31.5,  374 

Miller,  Miss  L.  Ella 1.5,  444,504 

Miller,  Rev.  Thomas 173,  338,  370,  504 

Miller,  Rev.  W.  L 138 

Miller,  Rev.  W.  K  351,  385 

Mills,  Brother  Dan 378 


Millersburg  Church 326 

Milner,  Rev.  J.  T IM,  146,  1.5.5,  389 

Milo  Church 176 

Milton  Church 150 

Ministers'  Institutes 458,  459 

Missionary  Activity  of  Iowa  Baptists 45 

Missionary-History  of  the  State  Con- 
vention   4.5,  ,59 

^Missionary  Meeting  at  Glen  wood 78 

Missi<)iiai'\'  Fnion  Church 260 

M  ission  Kidge  Church 324 

M  issouri  Valley  Church 282,  283 

Mitchell  Church 221 

Mitchell,  Kev.  E.  C,  D.  D 4.59 

Mitchell,  Rev.  H.  R 139 

Mitchell,  Rev.  J 134 

Mitchell,  Rev.  James 233,  263,  390 

Mitchell,  Rev.  S.  H,  9,  148,  2m,  273,  275, 

. . .  .383,1.383,^306,  308,  a57-8,  360-61,  437,  449 

Mitohelmore,  Kev.  C.  H 230,  341 

Module  ( 'hurch 380 

Modisett,  liev.  H.  H 153 

Moninouth  Church 138,  300,  301,  308,  311 

Monroe  Church 165,  170-2-.5,  184 

Montague.  Deacon  D.  O 137,  203 

Montana  Church 354,  a58 

.Monteziinia  Churcli 335,  337 

Mont iecllo  Church 99,  360 

Montpelier  Church 185,  275 

Monthly  Conference 313 

Moody,  Rev.  J.  F 191,  193,  194 

Moore,  Kev.  D 290 

Moore,  Rev.  J lOSJ 

Moore,  Rev.  P.  E 234 

Mof)re,  Rev.  S.  C 370 

Jloore,  Kev.  W.'.G 124 

Moi-a\-ia  ( 'hurch 188 

Morehead,  F.  R.,  Es(i 389 

Morev,  Rev.  W.  B.25,  28,  103.  115,  205,  418,  467 

Morgan,  T.  J.,  D.  D 459 

Mormontown  Church 383 

Morning  Sun  Church 303,  305 

M(  rris,  Kev.  J.  D 188,  462 

Morris.  Kev.  James 246 

Morse,  Deacon  Benjamin 339-40 

Morse,  Kev.  D 2*19,  ;iOO 

Morrill,  Kev.  G.  L 264 

Morris.  Rev.  J.^K 393,  400 

Morton,  Rev.  S 121,301 

Moscrip,  Rev.  C.  H 291-3-3,t  433 

Moss,  Kev.  Lemuel,  D.  D 459 

Mott,  Judge  Frederick 63,  422,  4.58 

Moulton  Churcli 157 

Mount  Ararat  Church 155,  189, 191 

Mount  Ayr  Churcli 238,  370,  373-4 

■Mountain.  Rev.  J 1^4 

Mini nt  (  armel  Church 137,  306 

Mount  F.dcn  Church 187 

Mount  Jov  Church 120 

Mount  M()riah  Church 1C3,  133,  172 

Moui  t  Olive  Churcli 338 

Mount  Pleasant  Church,  31,  93,  102.29.5,  304-6 
Mount   Pleasant  Church,  Centerville 

Association 156,158 

Mount  Pleasant  Church,  Central  As'n..l67 
Mount  Pleasant  Church,  Eden  Associ- 
ation  187,  191,[386 

Mount  Pleasant  Church,   Fox  River 

Association 145 

Mount    Pleasant    Church,    (Mineral 

Ridge) 347,349 

Mount  Vernon  Churcli 261 

MouTit  Zion  Church 103,  285 

Mount'Zion  Church.  Coon'^Valle   ,  37.5-6,  ;i80 
Mount  Zion  Church, East  Grand.River 

Association 370,  383 


Mulloy,  Robert,  Esi; 377 

Miinn,  Rev.  R.  J 389,  391 

Murder,  First  Execution  for 30 

Murflock,  Rev.  M.  U 316 

Murphy,  Rev.  J.   R.,  D.   D 173,   17i,  307 

Murray  Association (373-374) 

Murray  Church 370,  373 

Murray,  W.  B.,  Es(i 302 

Muscatine  Church 25,  38,  118-9,  121,  129 

Muscatine  German  Church 119 

Murdocli,  Rev,  Dr 82 

Mnxlow,  Rev.  M 248 

Myers,  Rev.  A 230 

Nash,  Rev.  H.  C 231,386 

Nash,  Mrs.  J.  A 472 

Nash,   Rev.  J.   A.,D.  D.,  61,63,165,169,179, 

. . .  .282,  377,  409,  427,  437,  457,  458,  459,  472 

Nashua  Church 225 

Nashville  Church ...130,  131 

Nelson,  Rev.  J.  M 192,  195 

Nelson,  Rev.  S.  E 140,  152,  329,  331,  332 

Nevada  Church 3.52,  361,  365 

Newburn  Church 166 

New  Departure  in  Convention  Worli 62 

Newell  Church 281 

Newell,   Rev.   L.  M.,  46, 192,  199,  211,  250,  334, 

371 

New  Garden  Church 187,  237 

New  Hartford  Church 220,  222 

New  Haven  Church 311,  328,  330 

New  Hope  Church 145,  150,  369,  38:3,  393 

Newland,  Rev.  1 146 

New  London  Church 295 

Newlan's  Grove  Church 247,  348,  393 

Newman,  Mrs.  T.  AV 446 

Newman,  Hon.  T.  W 422,  433 

New  Market  Church 386 

New  ( )ri'tit ju  ( 'hurch SJJ 

New  Pr(i\i(lence  Church,  Eden  Ass'n. .  .187 
New  Salem  Church,  Bedford  Ass'n.. 238,  36'.i 

New  Salem  Church 15.Vi • 

New  Sharon  Church 139 

New  Testament  Church 281 

New  S\vc<lcn  (  hurch 298-9,  301,  407 

Newton  (  hurch 166,  170-2,  184 

New  Union  Church 381 

New  Virg-inia  Church 171-3 

Nichols,  Rev.  A.  C 333,  342 

Nichols,  Rev.  B.  B 103 

Night,  Rev.  V 2:}7 

Nine  Mile  Church 138 

Nishnabotana  Church 244 

Noble,  Rev.  James  H 121 

Noel,  Cole,  Esq 277 

Nora  Springs  Church 229 

Norelius,  Rev.  A 3.55 

North  Bend  Church 200-1,  208,  213 

North  Rrancli  Church 377 

North  Faliius  Church 149,  1.50 

Norfh,  Rev.  J.  R 265 

North  River  Church 166,  171 

Northrup,  Rev.  G.  W.,  D.  D 4.59 

North  Union  Church,   166,  183,  348,  347, 

363,  367,  375,  376,  378 

North  Union  Church,  Davis  Co 31,  145 

North  Washington  Church 226 

North  wood  Church 352 

Norvell,  Rev.  J.S 2H 

Norwalk  Cliiircb 173.  185 

N(ii-w()(i(i.  Miss  A.  s :!(i(i.  li:; 

\y.'.  Kev.  .).  \V :;:;; 

Oakland  Chui'ch 3.5'.) 

Oakliiinl  Church,  Atlantic  Ass'n 399 

OakuiMjd  Church 272,274 


Obituary  Notes 471 

Officers  of  Central  Association 177-8 

Ogle,  Rev.  B 146 

Ohio  Church,  Madison  County 176 

Old  School  Baptists '.....43,  14.5,  183 

Olivet  Church 176 

Olivet  Church,  Cedar  Rapids 264-5 

Olney,  Rev.  G.  W 134 

Onderdonk,  Rev.  W.  W 234 

One  of  the  Lord's  Revivals 93 

Onken,  Rev.  J.  G 40 

Ononwa  Church 295-6 

Oran  Church 199,  334 

Orcuf t.  Rev.  Adna 22;i  272,  494 

Oregon,  Emigration  To 31,  466,  480,  487 

Orf  ord  Church 271 

Organization  of  Dubuque  Association.  ..119 

Organization  at  Iowa  City 467 

Ormsby,  Rev.  O 106 

Osage  Church 221,  233 

Osage  Seminary 14,  60 

Osborne,  Rev.  J.  W 146 

Osceola  Church 369,  373 

Osgood,  Rev.  S.  M.,  D.  D 206,  444 

Oskaloosa  Association 43,  111,  (laS,  144) 

Oskaloosa  Church... 43,  60,  103,  133-4,  143,  180 

Ossian  (lunch 337 

Otis,  HvY.  Edward,  340,  369,  383,  385-6,  498,  499 

Otis,  Rev.  J .  C 244-5-6-7,  249,  450,  489 

Otley  Church 172 

Otter  Creek  Church,  Cedar  Valley. .  .238,  230 
Otter  Creek  Church,  Centr'l  Ass'n.l67,  192-3 
Ottumwa  Church 43,  134,  141 

Packard,  Rev.  E.  A 1,50 

Packer,  Rev.  E.  E 265 

Packer,  Rev.  John  389 

Page,  Rev.  E.  H 332 

Page,  Mrs.  H.  E 446 

fmnt  Creek  Courch 336,  337 

Palo  Church 256,  477 

Panora  Church 184,  277,  375 

J  anther  Creek  Church 280,  37.5,  379,  380 

Pai  ers  of  the  Missionary  Union 82 

Parlicr,  Dea.  A 375 

Parker,  Rev.  Oilman,  129,  175,  3.53,  318, 

394,  396,  4.52 

Parker,  Rev.  H.I 222-3 

Parker,  Rev.  James 134,  146,  169,  188,  478 

Parker,  Rev.  L.  G 1.56-7,  161,  16:^  191 

Parker,  Rev.  Moses 296,  299 

Parker,  Rev.  Wm 169 

Parkersbuig  Church 231,  2;i4 

Parker's  (irove  Church 256,  259 

Parklnnst,  Rev.  W.  J 119 

Parks,  Rev.  H.  H 301,  313,  329 

Parks,  J 26 

Parks,  Rev.  Norman 28L  388 

Parmalee,  Rev.  J.  H 198,  230 

Parsons,  Dea.  Albion .504 

Parsons,  F.  T.,  Esq 303 

Parsons,  Rev.  F.  W 351 

Patrick,  Rev.  James 280,  281,  364,  366 

Patrick,  Rev.  John 281,  38S 

Patterson  Church 173,  176 

Pattison,  Rev.  W.  P 247,  349,  433,  437 

Paul,  Rev.  D.  H 113,  lis,  146 

Payne,  Rev.  Charles 140,  174,  4Si 

Peak,  Rev.  R.  T 147,  151 

Pearce,  Re  v.  H 187,  237,  373-3-4 

Peat.  Rev.  J.  B 3-)7,  4S9-90 

Peck,  Rev.  G.  C .- 177 

Peck,  Miss  Jennie  L 88 

Peculiarities  of  Field 142 

Pella  Church i:u.  141,  143 

Pella  Second  Church i:!."..  ;;-.'5,  428,  331 


I'CIKllctOM.   Kcv.  ('.  J 170 

l'fmic\ .  Dc'ii.  <>l'  I'isKilli '"'04 

I'ciiim'.  1{c\-.  'V.  .1 101).   ;«tl,  :«)2,  :504,  :{07 

Tcoplfs  ("Imrch :«;i,  :it.'5,  ;575,  :57i» 

Pcoiia  (  h inch 187,  litl 

Peoria  I'itv  Clnircli 171,  185 

IVrk ins,  lU'v.  ( 'liarlos 259 

Pfi-r\-  (  luirch 375,  *57() 

Pi'irv.  I{cv.  M.  H 281,  :«1,  343.  ;»! 

Pfiiv,  Dca.  W.  \V :«2 

Poisi)iis,  Hvv.  U 364-5-6 

Petfixit,  Uev.  F.  H 130 

PoUM'soii  ( 'liurch 389 

JMi(>li)s.  A.  D.,  Es(i 378 

Phillips,  Rev.  Eiain  D 131,203-4-5-6 

I'icK-ai.l.  Kev.  S 102,  110,  387,  28<l.  -ZiK).  470 

Pierce.  Kev.  E   K 234,  342 

Pi(MC\-,  .1.  \V..  Esq 372 

Pilot  (Jrove  Church 110,  285 

Pilot  MoiuKi  Church 3f5 

Pioneer  Church 280.  388.  390 

I'isyah  (  hurch 23,  101,  103,  112,  29.5,  ;505 

Platts  Branch  Church 237,  244 

Platts  Prairie  Church 38;^,  384 

Platte  Vallev  (Miurch 238 

Plattevillf  Church 369.  386 

I'leasant  Ci<)\  e  Church,  Fox  River.. 145,  155 

Pleasant  (inive  Church.  S.  \V.  Ass'n 247 

I'leasant  Grove  Church.  Wapello  Co....i:]6-8 

I'leasant  Hill  Church.  Central  A.ss'n 170 

Pleasant  Hill  Church.  Keokuk  Ass'n.... 289 

Pleasant  Point  Church 138 

Pleasant  Ridye  Church 328 

Pleasant  Valley  Church 37.5.  379 

I'leasant  ^'ie\v  Church,  Eng-.  Riv.  Ass'n. IBS 

Pleasant  View  Church.  Iowa  Co 316.  319 

Plimpton.  E.  S.,  E.S(i 278 

Plum  Creek  Church 200 

Plumlev.  Mrs.  A 499 

I'lumlev.  Rev.  A 227,  359,  361,  365,  499 

Pluniiner,  Rev.  L.  B 2:^3 

Point  Pleasant  Church 272,  374 

Polk  Church 221 

Polk  Citv  Church  171,  174,  185 

Pool,  Rev.  John  A 170,  171,  336,  .337,  369 

Porter,  Rev.  E.  B 316,  331 

Porter.  Rev.  W.  F 367 

Portland  Church 102 

Portloek,  Rev.  J.  B 361 

Post,  Re^■.  A.  H 196,  372,  398,  399 

Post,  Rev.  51.  J.26-7, 36,  66,  83-6,  98, 102-4,  464-72 

Pott.s.  Rev.  Wm 289 

Powell,  .1.  J.,  Es(i 422 

Powell.  Rev.  Thomas.  Sr 121.  206 

Powell,  Rev.  Thomas.  (3) 291.  494 

Powell.  Rev.  T.  W. .  .126-7-9, 139.  271-4,  449,  4.50 

Powers,  Rev.  R.  F 339 

Prairie  Association  248,  393 

Prairie  City  Church 185 

Prairie  Hill  Church 257 

Prairie  View  Church .3.30 

Pratt,  Dea.  Azel 496,  497 

Pratt,  Rev.  A. .  ..171,  248,  259,  299,  3(X),  .329,  371 

Pratt.  Rev.  J.  H 249,  3.50.  351.  397.  ;«8,  499 

Pratt.  Rev 476 

Pratt,  Rev.  W.  0....174,  233,  364,  388-9,291,  391 

Pre.scott,  Rev.  Asa 209.  210,  311 

Prescott,  Rev.  G.  W 129.  229,  4,52 

Presidents  of  the  Convention 63 

Preston,  Rev.  G.  W 338 

Price.  Prof.  A.  B 4.58 

Price.  Rev.  C.  A 177 

Princeton  (,'hurc'h .* 130 

Principles  and  Missionary  Work ,5;^ 

Proper,  Rev.  D.  D..  .160,  17.5,  390,  ;^1,  363, 

863,  422,  42;^,  4.52 


Propst.  Daniel.  Escj 370 

Providence  t'liurch.  Cedar  Val.  Ass'n. .  .;i21 

Providence  Church,  Davis  Co 27 

Providence  Church,  S.  W.  Ass'n 245 

Providence  of  Missions 76 

ProAirlence  Western  Land  Co 74,  377 

Prussian  (  hurch 394 

Prv,  Rev.  .1.  S 1.50 

Putting-  up  the  I5ars 412,  4!3 

Qualifications  for  the  ministry 68 

Quasquetou  Ch  u  rch 197,  198,  19!).  2.55 

Radclifle  Church 367 

Raferty.  .lohn,  Es(i 305 

Rairden,  Rev.  J.  F 221-3 

Rairden,  Rev.  N.  B 318,  319 

Randal ia  Church 341 

Randall,  Kev.  Wm.  E 282 

Ratliff ,  J.  W 112 

Ravlin,  Rev.  N.  F 2.57,  2.58 

Rawlings,  Rev.  .1 371 

Raymond.  Rey.  L.  V 211 

Read.  Rev.  D.,  LL.D 3:56.  4.56 

Rebellion,  The  frreat 59,  62.  135 

Reckncr,  .lesse.  Esq 1.50-2 

Redburn,  Rev.  J 147,  1.56 

Redman  Church 267 

Red  Oak  Church 3;J7,  342,  244,  247,  250,  2.53 

Red  Oak  Grove 43,  237 

Reed.  Rev.  C.  F 376-7 

Reed.  Rev  I.  W 374 

Reed,  Rev.  N.  A..  D.  I) 127,  391,  43a 

Reed.  Rev.  J.  C.  H 2.51 

Reed,  Mrs.  R.  B 379 

Reed,  Rev.  W.  E 206,  271,  352 

Reed,  W.  W 427 

Rees,  Rev.  Ira  H 166-7,  348-9,  3.^0-2 

Reese,  Rev.  Thomas 283 

Reeves  Settlement 185 

Reichenback,  Rev.  H.  A 2.53,  408 

Reisiirf  Mailin 48 

Keliuious  Papers  in  Iowa 460-2 

KpMiarkable  Manifestations  of  Divine 

Power 200 

Remington,  Rev.  C.  H 130-1,  127,  449.  4;>1 

Remley.  H.  M..  Esq 263 

Remley.  Milton.  Esq 260-2 

Renfro.  Rev.  J.  C 244 

Renwick  Chui'ch 366 

Revivals,  45,  58,  106,  108,  119,  135,  168-9, 

183,  316,  338,  340 

Revivals  in  Des  Moines  Association 

1953  to  1857 108-9 

Rexford,  Rev.  John Ift3 

Reynolds,  Rev.  R.J 363-3.  491 

Rhodes,  Rev.  J.  H 2.51-3 

Rice,  Rev.  W.  T 318 

Riceville  Church 330 

Richards.  Rev.  D 150 

Richards.  Rev.  D.  T 130,  275 

Richardson.  C.  H.,  Esq 162 

Richland  <  hurch 106,  133.  327 

Richland  (  enter  Church 377-8 

Richland  Church,  Iowa  Valley 267 

Richmond  Church 110-11.  29.5,  311 

Richmond,  Rev.  N 474 

Rickerson,  Rev.  F.  D..  D.  D 

46,  176-7,  368,  SiH.  4.33 

Rickman,  Rev.  T.  K 195 

Rig-RS.  Rev.  E.  H 370 

Ripley,  Rev.  J 152 

Ripley  Church 278 

Ritner.  Deacon  Henry  A 26,  477 

Ritner,  Rev.  J.  B 384 

Riverside  Chi:rch,  Sac  Co 2Ki 


Riverside  Church,  Worthinfj-ton  Ass"n..317 

Riverton  Church 347,  350 

Robb,  Rev.  Hamilton 38 

Robblns,  Rev.  A 

. . .  .136,  159,  160,  173,  347,  314,  318,  369.  463 

Robert,  Rev.  J.  T.,  LL.  D 134,  455,  498 

Robey,  Rev.  G.  W 347,  353,  383,  385. 

Robins,  C.  M.  Esq 346,394,396 

Robinson,  Rev.  Amos 

173-3, 175,  378,  383,  363,  433 

Robinson,  Rev.  Barton 378 

Robinson,  Rev.  Burton 75 

Robinson,  Rev.  Demas.169, 383,  361,363,377,437 

Robinson,  Rev.  G.  W 366 

Robinson,  Rev.  Peter 86,  98,  471 

Rochester,  Van  Buren  County 83 

Rock  Creek  (What  Cheer)  Church. .338,  330-1 

Rookford  Church 330 

Rock  Grove  Church 330 

Rock  Spring- Church 33,  101-3 

itockwell  City  Church 364-5 

Kockwood,  Rev.  J.  E 

75,  311,  379-80-1,  340,  393,  437,  451 

Roe,  Rev.  C.  T ". 337 

Roe,  Rev.  J.  W 346=7,  349,  489 

Rogers'  Grove  Church 256,  358 

Rome  Church  387 

Roney,  Rev.  Wm 135,  493 

Root,  Rev.  D.  M 198 

Root,  Rev.  Myron 337,  371 

Rose  Grove  Church 358,  361 

Ross,  Rev.  J.  H 199 

Ross,  Rev.  W 233 

Rosevllle  Church 117,  197,  334,  340 

Round  Point  Church 103 

Rowley,  Rev.  D 198,  355,  356 

Rudd  Church 331 

Rudd,  Miss  Martha  E 4.56 

Ru-.d,  M.  W 36,  33,  83,  105,  443,  464,  .504 

Rumbaugh,  Rev.  A.  H 491 

Rupert,  Be  jamin 118,198 

Rushville  Church 175 

Russ,  Rev.  E 396,  298 

Russell,  Rev.  A.  A 338 

Russell,  Rev.  A.  W 

46,  75,  166-7,  338,  377,  350,  353,  359,  480,  495 

Russell  Church 193-4 

Rutland  Church 363 

Rutledge,  Rev.  Wm 117,  119,  483 

Sac  City 73-5-6,  377-8 

Saddler,  Caleb,  Esq 306 

Saladay,  Rev.  A 134,  149,  153-5 

Sale,  Rev.  S.  C 338,  350 

Salem  Church 91, 389 

Salem  Church,  Bedford  Ass'n 337 

Salem  Church,  Fox  River  Ass'n 145 

Samson,  Rev.  H 304-6,  359,  484 

Sanders,  Rev.  J.  E 281 

Sanders,  J.  H.,  Esq 325 

Sand  Spring  Churcti 301 

Sandy ville  Church 168,  183,  410 

Sangster,  Rev.  A.  C 127,  299,  500 

Sarvis,  hev.  H.  A 329 

Savage,  Rev.  E.  P 137,  131,  251 

Sawiii,  Mrs.  A.  A 4.58 

Sawin,  Rev.  A.  A 130,  357,  268-9,  478 

Saxby,  Rev.  J.  S 361-3 

Sayre,  Rev.  W.  H 177,374 

Scandinavian  Baptist  Churches  in  la.,  407 

Scartt,  Rev.  E.  H.,  D.  D 134,  138,  437,  4.56 

Schaller  Church 384 

Shoenuiker,  Rev.  C 119,  406 

Scholield,  Rev.  James,  46,  lis,  198,  300-1,  334-6 

Schofleld,  Rev.  J.  V 171-2 

Scholes,  Rev.  T.  E.  S 404 


Science  Hill  Church 371 

Sciola  Church 346 

Scott,  Rev.  George,  46,  75,  117,  198,  201, 

202,  207,  279,  281,  334,  a39,  343,  376 

Scott.  Dca.  John 476 

Scott,  Rev.  John 121 

Scott,  L.  A.,  Esq 270 

Seamster,  Rev.  W 146,  1.53 

Seay,  Rev.  I.  M.,  55,  188,  235,338-9,341-3, 

35;3,  371,  373,  383;  886 

Seeley,  Rev.  J.  N 38,  36,  86,  103 

Seymour  Church 156-8 

Shalto.  Rev.  R.  H 194,  343,  374 

Shacklee.  Hev.  D.  W 398 

Shallcnbcrgcr,  Rev,  H..141,  153,  304,  306,  331 

Shaiinfelt,  Hcv.  J.  R 138,  347,301-3 

Sharimaek.  Kcv.  A.  F 128,  303,  343,  397-9 

Shell IV  ( 'lunch 394 

Sheldon  (  hurch 391 

Shell  Roc!<  Church 233,  501 

Shellsburg  Church 197-9,  25.5-6,  263 

shelton.  Rev.  G.  W 287,  302 

Shenandoah  Church 247,  250-1-3 

Shepherd,  Rev.  S.  T .161 

Shepherd.  Rev.  W.  C 386 

Sheridan  Church  382 

Sherman  Church,  Jasper  Co 171, 175 

Sherman,  Rev.  Shadrach 221,  224,  239 

Sheriiiaii,  Uev.  T.  H 399 

Shiloh  (  hurch 103 

Shimel,  Rev.  A 363 

Shii)p,  Rev.  J.  C 234 

Shirley,  Rev,  P.  P 46,  119,  261,  497 

Shoemaker,  Rev.  W.  B 150 

Shoemaker,  Rev.  J.  L 253 

Shoemaker,  Rev.  W.  C 153 

Shutz,  Rev.  Jacob 130 

Sibk'v  Chtirch 389,  391 

Sidn('V  (  huich 341-3-3-6 

Sigler.  Key.  M.J 374 

Sigourney  Church 133,  335 

Sill,  Rev.  Samuel 323-4-8,  339 

Silver  City  Church 2.51-2 

Silver  Creek  Church 243 

Silver  Lake  Church 388 

Simmons'  Creek  Church 199,  255 

Simmons,  Rev.  G.  D 118,  263,  354 

Simmons,  Rev.  A.  E 

140.  331,  353,  355,  375,  378,  380,  437 

Simmons,  Rev.  D 173,303 

Simmons,  Rev.  Wm.  M. .  .337-8,  330-1,  333,  379 

Simpson,  Rev.  D.  H 399 

Sioux  City  Church 73,  75,  378-9,  387-8,  390 

Sioux  Rapids  Church 381,  390-1 

Sioux  Valley  Association. . .  .381,  (387  to  393) 

Skemp,  Rev.  C.  W 310,  313 

Skenip,  Rev.  Samuel 302 

Slade,  Rev.  Thomas 118 

Smith,  Deacon  A.  A 312,321 

Smith,  A.  St.  Claire,  Esq 261-2 

Smith,  Rev.  C.  Billings 119-30,  301,  333 

Smith,  Rev.  C.  C 139,  365 

Smith,  Rev.  C.  G 280,  496 

Smilh,  C.  H.,  Esq 265 

Smith,  Dexter  P.,  D.  D.17,  47,  58,  81,  9.5, 

103,  116,  124,  174,  201,  368,  351,  417, 

418,  (427,  433),  468 

Smith,  Rev.  D.  T 370.  384 

Smith,  Rev.  Granger  W 173-4 

Smith,  Rev.  G   W 193,  196,  374 

Smith,  H.  H.,  Esq 138,  433 

Smith,  Mrs.  H.  H 497 

Smith,  Rev.  James  M 

157,  237,  239,  246-7,  371,  385,  470 

Smith,  Justin  A.,  D.  D  459 

Smith,  Rev.  Robert 334,  342 


Smock,  Kev.  Abraham 146,  149,  470 

Soldior  Valloy  Cluirch :.'8(i-l 

Sou  til  Codii  Cliiucli 377,  :i7'.l 

Soiitli  Creek  Clmreli :i7:i 

South  Kntilisli  ('liurch 134,  IK.") 

Soutlierlaiiil.  Kev.  (ioorge '£il 

Soutli  I'ork  Cliuich ::08 

South  PlviiiDutli  Cliurch ^81,  388 

Soutli  River  Cluireh 166 

South   Kiver  Church,  English   Kiver 

Association 328-9 

South  Western  Iowa  Ass'n 241,  (243,  254) 

South  Westei-n  Seminary 244-5 

Sparks,  Rev.  Wm.  J 

166,  183,  278,  346,  349,  376-7,  491 

Spencer  Church 388-9,  391 

Sperry,  E.  F..  Es(i 174,  177 

Sperry,  Rev.  Obed 108 

Sperry,  Rev.  Wm 86,102 

Spinney,  Mrs.  E.  C 446 

Spinney,  Rev.  E.  C,  D.  D 

138,  304,  306-7-8,  456,  459 

Spirit  Lake  Church 281,  388,  391 

Sprag-g.  Rev.  C 226,  272,  ;B9 

Spring  Brook  Church 200-1,  203 

Spring-  Creek  Church 302-;i-5 

Spring,  Rev.  E.  A 191,  193,  231 

Spring  Hill  Church 173 

Springville  Church 260 

Squaw  Creek  Church 349,  £52,  355 

Stanley,  Rev.-  A 241,  370,  372 

Stanley,  Rev.  J.  A 293 

Stannard,  Obed 86 

Stapp,  Rev.  J.  D 303-4 

Stark,  Rev.  Eli 371 

Stark  wether.  Rev.  A.  H 48,  121,  480-1 

Starr,  Rev.  D.  S 153,  227,  2.57,  338-9 

Starring,  Rev.  G.  H 343,  366 

Statistics.  1^50  to  1S61 32 

Steady  Hun  (  hurch 134 

Steamboat  Rock  Church 271 

Steele,  Rev.  H.  L 275,  318 

Stephenson,  Rev.  J.  P 234 

Stewart,  James 86 

Stitier,  J.  M.,  D.  D 339,459 

Stiller,  Rev.  W.  H.,  D.  D 

130-1,  228,  230,  262-3,  449,  452 

Stillson,  Rev.  Lyman 444,  504 

Stillson,  Rev.  B.  W 270,  3.59 

Stitt,  Rev.  T.  R 173,  175,  374 

Stoddard,  Rev.  I.J 61,  121,  136,  442 

Stoddard,  Mrs.  D.  C.  A 442,  4.56 

Monaker,  Rev.  Wm 135,  138 

Stone,  Rev.  Luther 36,  104,  457,  460 

Storm  Lake  Church 281,  388 

Storms,  Rev.  J.  H 301 

Stott,  Rev.  Arthur 

122,  150,  247,  291,  300,  311,  386,  393 

Stowell,  Rev,  A.  H 125 

Strawberry  Point  Church 

46,  60,  71,  199,  334,  34;i-4 

Strickland,  Rev.  E.  F.,  D.  D 177 

Striking  Feature  of  Our  History 200 

String  Piairie  Church 289 

Stuart  Church.* 1^5,378 

Sturgeon,  Rev.  William 192 

Stutsman,  Hon,  A.  H 302 

Summerset  Church 185 

Summerset   Church,  East    Nodaway 

A  ssociation 385 

Sunderland,   Rev.  James. 69,  139,  140, 

199,  2.59,  261,  281,  336,  344,  388-9,  419, 

421,  449,4.52 

Sutton,  Rev.  A.  W 1.58,  300,  311,  330 

Sutton,  Rev.  Milton.  .63,  109,  113,  28.5,  287,  'M'Z 
Swain,  Rev.  E.  R a5.5,  375,  .504 


Swede  Bend  Church .348-9,  ;i52,  361 

Swedish  Baptist  Association 408 

Swi It ,  Rev.  Car, OS 129 

Swiggett,  S.  A,.  Esq 141 

Swiiiden,  Rev   Wm 217 

Syracuse  Church JiSl 

Tabor  Church 245 

Tabeinaele  Church 103 

Tallevrauil  Church 311,  313,  31.5,  328,  38(i 

Tamil  City  Church 271 

Tarkio  ( 'hurch 246 

Taylor,  Kev.  C.  E 274-5,  38.5-6,  4,33 

Taylor,  Rev.  D 167 

Taylorsville  Cluirch 340 

Temporarj'  Chvirch  Organizations ,181 

Temple,  L.  F a3,  37,  86 

Terre  Haute  Church 370 

Terry,  Rev.  D 219,  220 

Terwilliger,  Rev.  M .503 

Theile,  Rev.  H.  W 263,  304 

The  "Standard"  in  Iowa 461-2 

Thickstun.  Mrs.  T.  F 440,  445 

Thickstun,  Rev.  T.  F.,  63,  140,  211,  224-6 

229,  245,  248,  394,  396,  418,  419,  4.37 

Thomas,  Rev.  C.  S 388 

Thomas,  Rev.  J.  B 215,216 

Thomas,  W.  F.,  Esq 311 

Thomas.  Rev.  Z 1.56 

Thompson,  Rev.  A 146,  188,  474 

Thoiiii)son.  Rev.  Charles 295-6-9,  417 

Thompson,  Rev.  C.  J 307-8 

Thompson,  Rev.  H.  M 131,  367 

Thompson,  Rev.  J.  W 251,  261 

Thompson,  Rev.  L.  H 17.5,  227,  262,  ,398 

Thoniiison,  Otis 86,  102 

Tillburv,  Rev.  C 2.50,370 

Tilly,  Rev.  Win 173,  209,227,  248 

Timpany  and  McLauran,  Mesdames,  204,  444 

Tingley  Church 374 

Tippecanoe  (Locust  Grove)  Church 287 

Tisdale,  Rev.  R.  D 278 

Todd,  Rev.  J.  A 168,  239 

Todd,  Rev.  Jonah 24,  101,  296, 476 

Toledo  Church 46,  197,  219,  220,  267 

Tolman,  Rev.  C.  F 287,  338,  427,  442,  444 

Toogood 477 

Toolsboro  Church 316 

Toolsborough  Church 103 

Towne,  Rev.  E.  O 108 

Townsend,  H.  S,  Esq 174 

Townsend,  Rev.  T.  C 168,  278,  504 

Tracy,  Rev.  R.  H 30.5-6 

Tracy,  Rev.  R.  M 137-8,  314-5,  321-8-9,  427 

Trask,  Rev.  E.  G 252 

Travis,  Rev.  G.  J 36;i-4 

Trevitt,  Rev.  John  288-9,  290,  486 

Tripp,  Prof.  R.  H 4.56 

Troy  Church 261 

Tucker,  Rev.  C.  T.,  225-8,  231-3,  251-2. 

263,3:57,  449 

Tucker,  Rev.  Silas 67-8 

Tuffin,  Rev.  Ed 279,  375 

Tufts.  Rev.  Geo.  E 140 

Turkey  River  Ass'n 44,  201,  (333,  344) 

Tu rner.  Rev.  Robert 268 

Turtoii,  Rev.  Wm.  H.,  106,  146,  1.55,  191, 

28.5-6,  290-1,  418,  nKi 

Tuscarora  Church 110 

Tyson,  Rev.  T.  K 194,  3a5 

Union  Churcli,  Central  Ass'n 166 

Union  Church,  Eden  Ass'n 187,  369,  373 

LTnion  Church,   Fox  River  Ass'n 150-5 

Union  Church,  Iowa  Valley 272 

Union  Church,  Lee  Countj' 23,  102 


Union  Church,  Pleasant  Ridge 336 

T^nion  rhiirch.UppcrDesMoinesAss'n 364-5 

riiion  \Ui\iiv  Cliurch 289,  3S8 

riiioiivillc  (  lniifh 156,  161,  189 

riii\(  rsity  (if  Des  Moines 14,  429,  451'.  458 

T'])l)('r  Uos  Moines  Ass'n 44,  168,  (345,  t;68) 

Urliana  (  hurch 261 

Ure,  Kev.  Thomas 227,  231-2,  340 

Vallandinf^ham,  Kev.  G.  M 319,  329,  331 

VanHiiren  Church 121 

Viuidalia  ( 'hurch If 5,  169, 183 

VaudiriKH)].  Rev.  A 18T,  237,  370,  372 

VanHoni  Church 264,  276 

VanMeter,  B.  A.,  Escj 31)1-2 

Vaug-hn,  Kev.  S.  H.  D 127 

Vernal  Church 187,  237,  238,  369,  373 

Vernon  Si>riugs  Church,  46,  201,  334,  341,  465 

Village  (reek  Church 103 

Villisea  Church 246 

Vinfon  (  hurch 219,  221,  257,  479 

Viola  (  hurch 260 

Volga  City  Church a37,  340-1 

Wadlev,  Rev.  F.  M 2.53 

Walberg,  Rev.  P.  C 3.52 

Walker,  Kev.  John  T 327 

Walker,  Rev.  W.  E 216 

Walnut  Creek  Church 188 

Walnut  Church 134 

Wiilnut  8t.  Church,  Burlington,  194,  306-9 

Walton,  Rev.  U.  K 46,  220 

Wai.ello  Church 38,  46,  295,  316,  319 

Ward,  Rev    E 136,  298,  300,  312,  321,  325 

Ward,  Rev.  J.  B 337 

Wai'd,  Rev.  J.  C 117 

Ward,  Rev.  J .  S 261 

Ward's  (\)rners  Church 3:37-9 

Warren  Cliurch 2^5 

War  Record  of  Burlington  Ass'n 296 

Wairen,  Rev.  J(jhn,  188,  278,  296,  298, 

300,  303,  314,  316,  490 

Warren,  Rev.  Jonah  G.,  D.  D 70 

Warson,  Rev.  H.  C .167,  173 

Washington  Ass'n (311,  324) 

Washington  Church. .  .0 27,  102,  2S.5,  311 

Washington,  Rev.  S 290,  291,  422 

Washington,  Rev.  W.  M 304 

Waterfoi  d  Church. 202 

Waterloo 42-6 

Waterloo  Church 43,  197,  219,  226 

Waterman,  Rev.  S.  B 232 

Watervllle  Church 201 

Watson,  Rev.  A 374 

Watson,  Rev.  D.  R 390-1 

AVatson,  Rev.  D.  S 63,  124,  126,  448,  449 

Waukon  ( 'hurch 46,  77,  31:54,  341,  343 

Wa\crl  V  (  hurch 219,  226 

Wayne  (  hurch.  Cedar  Valley  Ass'n  224 

Wavne  Church,  Eden  Ass'n 189 

Weaver,  Kev.  Amos 176,  263 

Weaver,  Rev.  H.  D. .  .131,  213,  215,  229, 

358,  359,  360,  364 

Weavers,  Rev.  Geo 250 

Webh,  Rev.  A.  W 2.51 

Webber,  John  H 105 

Webster  City  Church 43,  ;M9,  3r6,  360 

Webster,  Rev.  W 301 

WedgewGod,  Rev.  J.  M 224,  337,  340,  480 

Welsher,   Rev.  W.  A.,  D.   D.,   17.5,  177, 

304,  305,  379,  396,  462 

Wells,  Rev.  A 172 

Wells,  Rev.  Wm.  A 1C6,  117 

West,  Rev.  S.,  140,  174,  261,  299,  300,  326, 

328,  3:30,331 

West  Dayton  ( Jhurch :i56,  .358,  :361 


Western  Iowa  Ass'n,  44,  7:5,  173,  2.39  (277,  284) 

Western  l'nli)it  and  Pew 456,462 

Wester\  ille  Church ;371 

Westtield  (  hurch 200.  ;3;54 

West  Fork  Church ri24 

West  Irving  Church 269 

West  Nodaway  Valley  Church. ,239,  241,  369 

Weston,  Rev.  Rodolphus 447,465,466 

Weston,  Henry  G.,  U.  D 4,59,461 

Westover,  Rev.  J.  T.,61-:3,  123,  286-7-9,  427,  449 

West  Point  Chu  eh 112,  28.5-7 

Westside  (  liureh 282 

West  I'nion  Cliurch 117,  198-9,  :334-5 

West  Union  Church,  Bedford  Ass'n 238 

Wheeler,  Rev.  J.  R ;394 

Whitaker,  Rev.  E.  O 168, 177 

Whitaker,  Kev.  Wilford 493 

Wliitaker.  Rev.  W.N 1:38,  ;314 

Whiteomb,  Kev.  W.  W 228 

Whii elircast  Church 369 

White,  Rev.  A.  B 385 

White,  Kev.  Silas 241,246 

Whitehead,  Rev.  Wm 188 

Whitelaw,  Rev.  W.  H 1:30 

Whiting.  Rev.  L.  M 213,  214,  216,  278,  340 

Whitman,  Rev.  A 209,  264 

Whitnum,  Rev.  L.  M 336 

Whitman,  Rev.  P.  S 190,  269,  :339 

Whitmore,  F.  Z.,  Esq 342 

Whitmore,  Rev.  N 206 

Whitney,  Rev.  H 331 

Whitney,  J.  Cheston,  Esq 2;J4,  231-2 

Whitney.  Rev.  Wm 229 

Wiberg.  Rev.  Andreas 68 

Wiggin,  Kev.  F.  W.  C 342 

Wilber,  Rev.  H.  R  

39,  ,50,  108,  120,  199,  259-60,  418,  449,  470,  482 

Wilcox,  Rev.  CM 284 

Wilcox,  Rev.  Carlos 205,  208,  389 

Wilcox,  Rev.  S.  E 131,  4:33 

Wilder,  Rev.  Wm 231,  232,  262,  302,  419 

Wilkins,  Rev.  A.  C 275 

Wilkins,  Rev.  F.  L 131 

Wiiley,  Rev.  A.  F. .  .69,  269-70,  295-6,  431,  482-3 

Williams,  Henry  Esq 449 

Williams,  Rev.  Henry 232-3,  309 

Williams,  Rev.  John 

117,  1:34,  137,  201,  334,  336,  479 

Williams,  Mrs.  Lavina  C 443 

Williams,  Rev.  M.  F 246 

Wilson,  Edward  (Colored)  130 

Wilson,  Rev.  H.  W 130,  174,  378 

Wilson,  Rev.  John 308,  ,502 

Wilson,  Rev.  J.  D  297,  423 

Wilson,  Rev.  J.  T 1:37 

Wilson,  Rev.  J.  O 136,  427,  449 

Winnebago  Mission,  Church  334 

Winneshiek  County 76-7 

Winters,  Rev.  D 1.5.5, 160, 188,  193, 195 

Winterset  ( 'hurch 

57,  75,  167,  171-2-3,  184,  238,  277-8-9-80,  415 

Winthrop  Church 21.5,  227,  261 

Wiota  Church 394 

Wisdom,  Rev.  T.  W 150 

Witherwort,  J.  M.,  M.  D .50 

Witter,  Kev.  F.  S 3.58 

Wolf  Dale  Church 388 

Wolf  Creek  Church 280,  388 

Wolf,  J 26 

Wolf,  Kev.  W.  L 318-9 

Woman's  Bapt.  For'n  Mission  Society. 44.5-6 
Woman's  Bap.  Home  Mission  Soci'ty. 439-40 

Women's  Home  M  Ission  Society 88 

Wonderful  Growth  in  the  Davenport 

Association 120 

Wood,  Rev.  E 272 


Wood,  Rev.  J 375 

Wooa,  Rev.  J.  M.  .109,  i:^5,  156,  287,  312, 

314-5,  318,  326,  331    470 

Wood,  Rev.  Win . .  119,  22:^,  227,  2;M,  376,  491-2 

Wood,  Rev.  W.  L 130,  319 

Woodbine  (;hu7-ch 2811,  2KJ 

Woodland  Church 171,  173 

Woodrow,  Mrs 2.50 

Woodruff,  Rev.  L.  M.,  D.  D 175 

Woodruff,  Rev.  W.  R. . .  .295,  298,  ;100,  311,  324 

VVoodi?,  Rev.  J 255 

Woodson,  Rev.  Hurry 177,  275 

Woodward,  R'  v.  .lonah 46,  2:}9,  2.5,5-6 

Worcester,  Rev.  S.  H 46,  135,  290 

Worden,  Rev.  Hoi'ace 104 

Workman,  Rev.  C.  R 291,  293 

Worthington  Church 202,  208,  217 

Workman,  Prof.  L.  E 302,  456 

Wrig-ht,  Rev.  W.  C 339 


Wyly,  Rev.  W.  L 172 

Xenia  Church,  IJedford  Association 238 

Xenia  Church,  Iowa  Valley 269 

Yankee  Settlement  Church 117,  198,  200 

Yarmouth  (  hureh ;j06-7 

Yarnell,  Rev.  L 46,  278 

Yatesville  Church 3.55,  364 

Yolton,  Rev.  H.  R 292 

York  Church 337 

,  Young-,  Rev.  Wm 290-1,  494 

Zimmerman,    Rev.  J.  Z.,   1:^9,204,209. 

257, 359,  360,  378 

Zion  Church,  Cedar  Valley 22i' 

Zion  Church,  Davenport  Ass'n 12('-1 

Zion  Church,  Fo.v  River  Ass'n 14.5,  l.'O 

Zion  Church,  Washington  Ass'n 312 


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Historical  sketches  of  Iowa 


Baptists. 


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PHOTOCOPY 


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